TAMPA - All good things must come to an end.
After winning back-to-back Stanley Cup titles, The Tampa Bay Lightning came up just two wins short of a three-peat, losing Game 6 at home to the Colorado Avalanche 2-1.
It was an incredible run for the Bolts, but knowing they were on the cusp of greatness makes this one hard to swallow.
"It’s crushing," said Lightning Captain Steven Stamkos. "These last three years have been unbelievable. It was just a grind, that’s what makes it even tougher because you realize how hard you worked to get here. The disappointment you can’t put into words.”
Stamkos gave the lightning an early lead with his career-high 11th goal of the postseason, less than four minutes into the first period.
But that was all the Bolts could muster.
The Avs, meanwhile, scored two goals in the second courtesy of Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lekonen. Colorado then put on a defensive clinic in the third period, holding Tampa Bay to just four shots on goal.
"That’s a hell of a hockey team," said Lightning Head Coach Jon Cooper. "And that’s what our guys should hang the highest. It’s not like we lost to some powderpuff. That’s a baller hockey team over there. In saying that, it doesn’t make it less easy cause you have to beat good teams to win the Stanley Cup. We just ran out of gas and it sucks.
Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar won the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP.
Although they weren’t able to win a third straight title, Cooper said he believes this team is right up there with the 80s New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers. And both he and Steven Stamkos agreed that this team isn’t done.
The Bolts will have some decisions to make with the NHL Draft and free agency right around the corner, but they’re confident they can get back to the mountain top.