Many claim that the Stanley Cup is the most difficult trophy to win in the world of professional sport. The road to his conquest is strewn with pitfalls and four rivals aiming at the same goal. But once lifted proudly, it is so spellbinding that champions will do anything to take the same path.
That’s exactly the case in the Tampa Bay Lightning locker room.
Exactly nine months after lifting the cup at Rogers Place in Edmonton last September, after 65 days of living in “bubble towns”, the Florida team are four wins from a second dream. This time, the players would experience it with their loved ones, in front of their supporters.
According to its main architects, the success of the team is explained by the desire to win, the lessons of the past and the culture in the locker room.
These are just a few reasons from a long list, because on ice, the Lightning lives up to its name.
A real offensive power, his production comes from the four lines, as several players pointed out in the virtual press briefings on Sunday afternoon.
The defensive brigade, led by Victor Hedman, is tight in front of the wall Andrei Vasilevskiy, now recognized as the best goalkeeper in the world.
In this duel in front of the net, the Russian will rub shoulders with the one who wore this crown until very recently, Carey Price.
However, in the NHL, defending your title is no small task. Since 1990, two franchises have achieved the feat: the 1992 Penguins, the 1998 Red Wings … and the 2017 Penguins.
“We are using our lived experience in the 2020 playoffs to make another dream come true. We had lived a great story. It’s tough to win this cup, but once you’ve done it, you can only desire it again, captain Steven Stamkos said. It was our goal all season. We are in a position to rehearse our scenario. “
“The work is not yet finished,” he then said. But to try again with this group is very special. ”
The core of the group has remained almost intact. The leaders still welcomed new faces to the family.
“It’s a family mentality. We all work for each of us, ”said Patrick Maroon, who is making his third straight Stanley Cup final after winning it with the Blues and Lightning. “Good chemistry in the locker room leads to good things on the ice. “
Very useful luggage
In the many disappointments of the past few years, Lightning players have learned lessons for the future. In fact, they watched them in retrospect.
Stanley Cup finalists in the spring of 2015, after meeting the Canadiens on their way to the second round, they lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games.
The following year, they had folded in the semifinals, in seven games, in front of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who then won the cup.
In 2018, still in the semifinals, they were eliminated after the final game against the Washington Capitals, also cup champions afterwards.
And in 2019, a surprising very early exit had rang the bells: the Blue Jackets had swept the series of the first round.
This third appearance in the final in six years proves that the experiences of the past have borne fruit.
“We learned a ton of things,” said Alex Killorn, third in the playoffs with eight goals and nine assists. “We won and lost in several contexts, including crucial matches. We know that things can’t always go in the right direction. It’s a cliché, but it’s so true: when you win one cup, you want another. “
Moment unique
For the many Quebecers in the Lightning roster, this final clash against the team of their childhood is meant to be a unique moment in a career.
Once the puck is placed on the ice, however, they will be ruthless.
“Honestly, it’s really big,” said the scorer of the game-winning goal against the New York Islanders, forward Yanni Gourde. “It’s an exciting challenge. We can’t wait to get started. We have to put that aside and focus on hockey, because it will be a battle against the Canadiens. It will be hard. “
“It will be very special, but our plan is to win,” said defenseman David Savard, a native of Saint-Hyacinthe.
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