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 Post subject: Stanley Cup Final: (2)Lightning vs (3)Stars
PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2020 3:35 am 
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The pandemic made it a long shot, but hockey finally returned on August 1 with the sole purpose of awarding the Stanley Cup in 2020. An unconventional playoff began with 24 teams vying for the prize, and after 48 days of grueling hockey, the chase is finally down to just two teams: the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Dallas Stars.

The Dallas Stars started as the Minnesota North Stars in 1967, serving as one of the Original Expansion Six along with the Los Angeles Kings, the St. Louis Blues, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the defunct Oakland Seals. The North Stars made the playoffs in five of their first six seasons, but it wasn't until 1980 that they finally advanced past Round 2. A year later, the North Stars reached the Stanley Cup Final for the first time, but they fell victim to the New York Islanders' juggernaut. After seasons of first and second round exits, the North Stars returned to the Final in 1991, but lost to their Expansion Six brethren, the Pittsburgh Penguins. The team moved to Dallas in 1993 and became simply known as the Stars, and in their sixth season in Dallas, the Stars defeated the Buffalo Sabres to win their first Stanley Cup. They returned to the Final in 2000, but came up short against the New Jersey Devils. That was their last appearance until this year, as they defeated the Flames (six games), Avalanche (seven games), and Golden Knights (five games) to reach the Final for the fifth time in franchise history.

The Tampa Bay Lightning were part of a wave of expansion and relocation that took place throughout the 1990s and into the 21st century. They began play in 1992 and made their first playoff appearance in their fourth season (1995-96); however, they wouldn't win a playoff series until 2003. The following year, the Lightning won their first Stanley Cup, doing so in their 12th season and becoming the first team to debut in the 1990s and win the Stanley Cup (a feat that was only copied by the Anaheim Ducks three years later). It would be 12 years before the Lightning returned to the Final, but they ended up as victims of the 2010s Blackhawks dynasty. This year, they make their third Final appearance, and they defeated the Blue Jackets, Bruins (five games each), and Islanders (six games) to do so.

Now, let's go back a bit to last year. We know the story. 62 wins, tied the 1995-96 Red Wings for the league record. Both 62-win teams were expected to win the whole thing. The Wings team lost in the West Final. But at least that's something; the Lightning didn't win a single game in the playoffs--swept by a Blue Jackets team who hadn't won a series in their history. Dallas' run was improbable. Think about it. They had a terrible Round Robin, and they were 10 seconds away from falling behind 3-1 against the Flames. They went from all of that to reaching the Final, and that is something to be revered. Honestly, if they were playing anyone else, I could see Dallas with that momentum winning. But they lack one thing that Tampa Bay currently has: a hunger for redemption.

And that's the key word. What happened to the Lightning last season was embarrassing. That team was expected to walk away with the Cup, the Hart, and the Vezina. They got the last two, but weren't even close to the first one. In his video mocking the Lightning, Urinating Tree stated, "I wouldn't even hang a banner for the Presidents' Trophy--it will only remind you of failure." He's right. All that season is now is a reminder that the Lightning flat out choked, and the ONLY way for TB to make that season just a blip on the radar is to win the Stanley Cup. They are four wins away from doing just that. Dallas had a very epic comeback run and they have the talent to win this thing. The thing is, not only does TB have the talent, they have their quest to redeem themselves, and they will.

Prediction: Lightning in six

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 Post subject: Re: Stanley Cup Final: (2)Lightning vs (3)Stars
PostPosted: Sat Sep 19, 2020 10:02 pm 
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Stars 4, Lightning 1

Another stellar start for Anton Khudobin; 35 saves (22 in the third period) to lead Dallas to victory in Game One.

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 Post subject: Re: Stanley Cup Final: (2)Lightning vs (3)Stars
PostPosted: Mon Sep 21, 2020 11:14 pm 
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Lightning 3, Stars 2

Bolts score all three in the first period, hold off Dallas comeback to even Final.

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 Post subject: Re: Stanley Cup Final: (2)Lightning vs (3)Stars
PostPosted: Thu Sep 24, 2020 12:08 am 
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Lightning 5, Stars 2

Steven Stamkos returns and scores a shorthanded goal; Lightning win Game 3 in grand fashion and lead Final.

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 Post subject: Re: Stanley Cup Final: (2)Lightning vs (3)Stars
PostPosted: Fri Sep 25, 2020 11:59 pm 
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Lightning 5, Stars 4 (OT)

Kevin Shattenkirk's goal 6:34 into OT puts the Lightning one win away from the Stanley Cup.

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 Post subject: Re: Stanley Cup Final: (2)Lightning vs (3)Stars
PostPosted: Sun Sep 27, 2020 12:14 am 
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Stars 3, Lightning 2 (2OT)

Stars force Game Six behind Corey Perry's two goals; one of them coming 9:27 into the second OT.

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 Post subject: Re: Stanley Cup Final: (2)Lightning vs (3)Stars
PostPosted: Mon Sep 28, 2020 11:00 pm 
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Lightning 2, Stars 0

The Tampa Bay Lightning win their second Stanley Cup in franchise history, one season after an embarrassing end to their historic year. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped all 22 shots; Victor Hedman captures the Conn Smythe Trophy. Patrick Maroon wins his second straight Stanley Cup (won with the Blues in 2019).

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