Captain steven stamkos quickly handed over the stanley cup for the championship of the tampa bay lightning in the nhl to victor hedman.
The defenseman went scoreless in the decisive 2-0 (1-0, 1-0, 0-0) win over the dallas stars, but scored an outstanding ten goals in the playoffs – more than any other NHL defenseman since 1994. For this, the swede not only got quick access to the most coveted trophy in field hockey, but was also awarded a personal trophy as the most valuable player of the final series.
"It takes a lot to be in a bubble for 80 days or however long," hedman said. "But it was all worth it now. We’re coming home with the trophy."
Even before NHL boss gary bettman handed him the conn-smythe trophy on monday night (local time), hedman spoke to nbc about his feelings after the second stanley cup win in the history of the tampa bay lightning. "It means the world to bring home this cup. Winning the cup takes a few weeks, maybe months, to realize."
Kapitan stamkos had only been on the ice for a few minutes in game three after his long injury layoff, but immediately contributed a goal. That he would not play on monday, coach jon cooper had already made clear before the match. For stamkos, too, his first stanley cup triumph was an extraordinary triumph. "I’m just speechless," stammered the exceptional striker after the decisive victory.
The 30-year-old has been playing in florida since 2008, but despite some of his best chances, he has not yet made it to the stanley cup. Tampa coach cooper had already led the lightning team around stamkos to the NHL finals five years ago. That’s when the loss to the chicago blackhawks was. "This is going to leave a wound, no question about it," the charismatic cooper said at the time.
It already seemed like it was going to happen last year. Tampa, with superstars stamkos and nikita kutscherow, was by far the best team in the NHL’s main round, the top favorite for the title – and was eliminated without a fight after one playoff round. The satisfaction was all the greater after the clear and well-deserved victory against dallas. "I have never experienced anything like it in my life. This team is absolutely exciting," said stamkos.
Tampa won the cup in 2004, the only time in the team’s history so far. This time they had to do without thunderous cheers from the fans. Because of the corona pandemic, the NHL playoffs were held entirely in canada without spectators, and the fireworks in edmonton were seen only by players, coaches and team officials, as well as a few journalists and helpers.
As the first of the major U.S. Leagues, the NHL ended its season, interrupted by the corona pandemic, with a champion. It is not clear when the new season will begin. Expected to start in january 2021.
German pros did not take part in the final series. The last time national goalkeeper philipp grubauer won the stanley cup was two years ago with the washington capitals, the two years before that tom kuhnhackl had been successful with the pittsburgh penguins.