Tampa Bay Lightning are the Stanley Cup Champions

Lightning beat the Dallas Stars 2:0 in the final game of the season to make it 4:2 in the best-of-seven series. Brayden Point scored a game-winning goal, while Andrei Vasilevskiy shutout Stars´ forwards.

Game six was an intense game with 77 hits in total. The defense of the Lightning did not let the Stars attack, their forwards struggled to approach Vasilevskiy´s net and create dangerous chances. They recorded only eight shots on goal in the first two periods. In the third one, they shot 14 times, but it was not enough to put the puck into the net. The Lightning scored two goals from 29 shots.

Brayden Point stroke first in power-play after 12 minutes of play. He scored from the rebound of his own shot, Dallas´ goalie Khudobin did not see the puck rebounding, and therefore did not have time to move to stop the puck. Point set a new club record with 14 postseason goals.

The second strike came in the third period after a turnover from Pat Maroon in the neutral zone. It resulted in a gorgeous passing between third and fourth-liners. Coleman slapped one-timer and it was 2:0 and the final score of the game.

Stars had several chances in the last minutes. They played in six and had a steady pressure in their offensive zone but did not score. Goalie Khudobin kept them in the game with his incredible saves, he proved his good shape during their playoff run.

Miro Heiskanen, a 21-year-old defenseman for Dallas was their not only their most productive player but also the leader among defensemen with 26 points. It was only his second season in the NHL, but he played like an experienced player with a very high hockey IQ. He can become one of the best defensemen in the league in the upcoming seasons.

The point leader during the playoffs was Nikita Kucherov. This skilled Russian winger played greatly and recorded 34 points in 25 games. He and his teammates from the first line, center Brayden Point and winger Ondrej Palat were the most effective and dangerous line during the playoffs. Combined they collected 85 points.

Tampa proclaimed its strength despite playing without their captain Steven Stamkos who had a core muscle injury. He still played a couple of minutes in game three of the final series where he scored a beautiful goal after a short time in the first period. Although his injury did not let him finish the game and play anymore in the series, the Cup celebration was not without him. As a right captain, he lifted the Cup and celebrated with his teammates.

Other leaders stepped up to lead the team. One of them was Swedish Victor Hedman. The Lightning defenseman was announced as the Conn Smythe Trophy winner given to the most valuable player of the playoffs. He is a great skating and shooting defenseman who scored ten goals in players. Only three players scored more goals than the 29-years-old defenseman.

In this postponed season due to the Covid-19, the Lightning won their second Stanley Cup after 16 years. They have been contenders in past seasons, losing the Stanley Cup final in 2015 against the Blackhawks. This year, they had to play three round-robin games, and then in the best-of-seven series, they defeated Blue Jackets, Bruins, Islanders, and Stars and achieved what they dreamt about.

For the Stars franchise, it was the fifth appearance in the SC Final, winning in 1999, this was their fourth loss. Two of the losses were during the times when Stars were in Minnesota. This season they proved they are a solid team and can compete against anybody.

The 2020/2021 National Hockey League season is scheduled to start in December. There may be a delay, depending on the coronavirus situation.