In April 2019, Tampa Bay Lightning skates from the ice, victims of a stunning first-round sweep by the Columbus Blue Jackets after a 62-win season.
On Monday, they stayed on the ice after the end of Game 6 to lift the Stanley Cup for the second time in the franchise's history.
The 2--0 win over the Dallas Stars completed the Redemption Tour as Lightning went 16-6 after Round Robin to win the NHL Championship for the first time since 2004.
Last season's shock showed that skill alone was not enough to win a cup, so General Manager Julian Brisbane got busy, adding strength for attackers Pat Marron and Barclay Godreux and depth in striker Blake Coleman, defender Kevin Shatenkirk, Zach Bogossian and Luke Sheen.
This allowed them to outrun Blue Jackets, Boston Bruins, New York Islanders and Stars despite only having five spells from Captain Stephen Stamkus.
But in the end, Lightning won a championship because their stars were performing like superstars in this post-season.
A look at the game's winnings 6:
The top line chips into Lightning again
Bryden Point gave Lightning a 1--0 lead with the goal of playing power in the first period. It was his 14th post-season goal to give him the top spot in the play-offs.
Nikita Kuchirov earned his nursing number 27 in the play, which was ranked 4th best player of all time in a single season. Only Wayne Gretsky and Mario Lemieux were ahead of him.
Smith being the winner
Headman, who is beating Pointe in a forthcoming vote for the player's best in the playground, was given a first goal assist to give him 22 points this post-season.
His ten goals ranked third of all time among defenders in one year.
New arrivals are entering
Marron got Alexander Radulov's pass in the second half and led Coleman to lead two goals to none.
Marron won the Stanley Cup consecutively with different teams. The last person to do so: Corey Stillman (Tampa Bay, 2004, and Carolina, 2006, after the shutdown canceled season). Last to do so in successive years: Claude Lemieux (New Jersey, 1995, and Colorado, 1996).
He was helped by an impressive defensive game from Lightning that set the stars with four shots in each of the first two periods, although he had to make a big save on Tyler Seguin in the third period.
Presenting the cup
The Lightning team, who spent more than two months away from their families, changed the post-game introductory party by first appearing around the Stanley Cup as a team.
Commissioner Gary Pittman presented the trophy to Stamcus, who was in uniform for the occasion.
He first delivered it to Hedman, and Lightning skated around the empty square with the trophy.
The positives of the stars
Although the stars were excluded in the final match, they had a lot of positives in the qualifiers.
Miro Hiskanen led all the defenders with 26 points and Joe Pavilsky set a record for career goals for a US-born player with a score of 61. Goalkeeper Anton Khudopin, who is usually a reserve, shone in the absence of injured Ben Bishop. Rookies Joel Kiveranta and Denis Guryanov have played big matches in the previous rounds.
Sigwen and captain Jimmy Penn did not score any goals in the final round, although Siguen scored five assists in matches 4 and 5.
Sejwen said: “Feelings are cruel right now. I am proud of this organization, all these guys, the ace is coming when men get hurt, different men come forward at different times, and come in
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