Field Level Media
Jul 7, 2021
Winning last year's Stanley Cup title meant the world to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Capturing it again on home ice with a 1-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, however, meant that much more.
While last year's crown was sealed inside a mostly empty building in the NHL's pandemic bubble in Edmonton, the Lightning doubled their delight by being the first team to repeat since the 2016 and '17 Pittsburgh Penguins and doing it this time in a full arena with family, friends and fans to share the elation.
"That was huge motivation for this group," captain Steven Stamkos told Sportsnet amid the celebration after Tampa Bay won the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final in five games. "To win it again -- it doesn't take away anything from last year -- but to do it again is a validation into history. This group accomplished something not many thought could happen."
The Lightning claimed the third championship in franchise history, having also prevailed in 2004.
Rookie Ross Colton's second-period goal was all the offense the Lightning needed with goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy concluding another series with a shutout win.
Vasilevskiy, awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs, made 22 saves for his fifth shutout in this year's title run and the sixth of his career in the postseason.
The 26-year-old Russian recorded a shutout in all four series-clinching victories this year, and he has blanked the opposition in five consecutive series clinchers dating back to last year's Cup-winning finale against the Dallas Stars.
Vasilevskiy became the first goalie in nine years to capture the Conn Smythe. Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick earned the honor in 2012.
Carey Price stopped 29 shots for Montreal, which saw its Cinderella run come to an end.
The Canadiens were the lowest-ranked club to reach the playoffs, but they delivered a trio of upset victories en route to facing the Lightning for the crown. However, they didn't have enough to upset the defending champions, who were especially the superior squad in the first and third periods.
"It's incredibly disappointing, but I'm only disappointed about the result," Price said.
No Canadian team has claimed the Cup since Montreal earned its last championship in 1993.
Colton's first goal of the series finally opened the scoring past the midway point.
Colton was parked at the front of the net and neatly redirected David Savard's pass right to his stick in the crease at 13:27 of the second period. His fourth goal of the playoffs set a franchise record for most playoff goals by a rookie.
It was the 18th game in which the Lightning scored first during their playoff run, and they posted a 16-2 record in those contests.
"Surreal feeling once again," Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman said. "To do it in front of our fans and our families is special. I never thought I'd experience this in my life. It's unbelievable."
Losing to the highly favored Lightning, who are facing many offseason changes due to the flat salary cap, didn't take the sting away from the Canadiens.
"I've played on a lot of really good teams and with a lot of really good guys," Montreal forward Brendan Gallagher said while choking back the tears. "We've got so many players who worked their entire career to get to this point. It's a tough pill to swallow. ...
"At the start of the year, we sat down as a group and our goal was to be here. We expected to be here regardless of what people thought of our team. The expectations were to win this series. I know we probably surprised a lot of people, but our expectations were be the team celebrating right now, and that's why it hurts so much."
--Field Level Media
