Lightning defeat Stars in Game 6 to claim franchise’s second Stanley Cup
Courtesy of the Tampa Bay Lightning: Original Posting
The Tampa Bay Lightning are the 2020 Stanley Cup Champions.
This team that has suffered so much playoff heartbreak in recent years, falling to Chicago in 2015, coming within a win of the Cup Final in 2016 and 2018 and then the First Round sweep in 2019, has reached the pinnacle of the sport and won the Stanley Cup.
The franchise’s second-ever Stanley Cup was secured with a convincing 2-0 victory over the Stars in Game 6 on Monday night.
A record-setting goal from Brayden Point got the Lightning off to a strong start. With Tampa Bay on their second power play chance of the opening period, the middle of the ice was left wide open for Point to follow up on his initial shot and score on a big rebound. The goal was Point’s 14th of 2020 playoffs, passing Tyler Johnson‘s previous franchise record of 13 in 2015.
Blake Coleman doubled Tampa Bay’s lead at the 7:01 mark of the second period. Pat Maroon set up the play, batting a puck out of midair to force a turnover in the neutral zone. On the ensuing entry, Cedric Paquette fed Coleman at the right circle and his one-timer beat an outstretched Anton Khudobin.
In the third, Tampa Bay put on a defensive exhibition to lock down the victory. The Lightning stacked up the neutral zone and made it difficult for the Stars to enter the offensive zone. In the final minutes, the Bolts kept Dallas from gaining possession, keeping Khudobin in the net until there were under two minutes remaining.
Vasilevskiy was arguably at his best in this final game of the playoff run. He stopped all 22 shots on goal the Stars threw his way to record his first shutout of the postseason.
In this year, arguably one of the most unique Stanley Cup Playoffs ever to take place, the Lightning found a way to get it done.
They’re the Champs.