2004 Cup Win
2020 Cup Win
2021 Cup Win
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ROAD TO THE CUP
How Tampa Bay turned into Champa Bay
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2015 FINALS LOSS
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In 2015, the Tampa Bay Lightning made it to their first trip back to the finals since 2004. After a memorable run through the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Tampa Bay Lightning lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Final. The Blackhawks won the best-of-7 series 4-2. The Lightning, as the club with the better regular-season record, held home-ice advantage in the series. 
5 years later, the Tampa Bay Lightning made it to the postseason yet again, stacking an impressive 61 points for the 2020 season. The club tied the record for most wins in a season by any team in NHL history and were set to play eighth seed Columbus in the first round of the playoffs. The Lightning were seen by analysts as the overwhelming favorites to win the series. However, the series ended in a shocking elimination for the Lightning; concluding with the Columbus Blue Jackets sweeping the Lightning in four games, with a +11 goal differential.
The NHL is the first of the four major pro sports leagues to crown a champion during the pandemic.The post-season saw 24 teams in two hub cities, Toronto and Edmonton. In the bubble, players were tested daily and required to adhere to strict rules designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Fans were also not in attendance. The final buzzer went off and Tampa Bay Lightning hoisted the Stanley Cup for the second time in franchise history after they defeated the Dallas Stars 4-2 in the series.
The Tampa Bay Lightning will retain the legendary NHL trophy for another year after winning their second title in a row. The bolts defeated the Montreal Canadiens to win the third Stanley Cup in franchise history. The full-capacity crowd erupted, letting loose more than a year’s worth of anticipation after being unable to cheer on their team in person last year because of the pandemic. This year, the Bolts got to hoist the cup on their home ice, which had not happened since the team’s first title in 2004.
With the Tampa Bay Lightning recently clinching birth in the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, many wonder if a 3-peat will occur. Although the Lightning lost some depth after last season, the core of its championship teams remained intact. Leaning on those guys will be critical as the regular season winds down and playoff hockey draws near. Staying healthy will also be vital.
2020 UPSET
BUBBLE CUP CHAMPS
BACK 2 BACK
3-PEAT?
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