Savard set up Colton’s goal midway through the second period past Canadiens stalwart Carey Price and the packed crowd roared. Ross Colton and David Savard weren’t around last year and made sure to put their stamp on Tampa Bay’s latest title run. “And then you do it two years in a row, you deserve to go down in history.” “It’s so hard to win the Stanley Cup,” Stamkos said. Photograph: Scott Audette/NHLI/Getty Images The Tampa Bay Lightning celebrate in the locker room with the Stanley Cup after Wednesday night’s clincher. Finishing with a handful in a frantic final minute, he made 22 saves to remain undefeated in games after a loss over the past two playoffs, both of them won by Tampa Bay in the pandemic. Vasilevskiy had a series-ending shutout for an NHL-record fifth consecutive time dating to the 2020 final. Winning has become normal for the Lightning, who did so this time relying on their playoff MVP goaltender, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and the only two Tampa Bay players on the ice without their names on hockey’s holy grail. “Full arena, incredible energy and another championship in Tampa,” Bettman said. As Stamkos took another lap with the Cup, players held up their phones to capture video of the fans, the confetti and the joy of being able to really, truly celebrate. Pyrotechnics went off around him to celebrate not only Tampa Bay winning during a pandemic once again but the end of another grueling season played against the backdrops of protocols, restrictions and heartbreak.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.It was a familiar sight for the back-to-back champions, even if it was different in every possible way.Īfter the Lightning beat the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 on Wednesday night to end the final in five games, Stamkos hoisted the Cup in front of 18,110 fans – 18,110 more than the last time he did back in September. He also has played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild and Carolina Hurricanes. Louis in 2010 and played five seasons for the Blues before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He signed a one-year free-agent deal worth $3 million with the Lightning during the offseason and was expected to be in their lineup when Tampa Bay opens the regular season on Tuesday at the New York Rangers.Ĭole, a Michigan native, made his NHL debut with St. The Lightning would not clarify when contacted by ESPN whether the investigation into the allegations against Cole would be conducted by the team, the league or law enforcement.Ī source told ESPN's Emily Kaplan that Cole's suspension is considered paid leave.Ĭole, 33, is entering his 13th NHL season. The Twitter post did not specify where or when the alleged encounters occurred. The person wrote that Cole groomed her for four years 'starting when I was a minor in high school' and noted that Cole was 'well aware of my age' at the time of the alleged sexual abuse. The allegations against Cole were made in a statement posted to Twitter on Friday by an anonymous user.

'I look forward to clearing my name and demonstrating to the NHL and the Tampa Bay Lightning that these allegations are unfounded.'' 'I take the allegations made against me today in an anonymous tweet very seriously,'' Cole said. No members of the organization, including players, will comment further at this time.'Ĭole, in a statement released through his agent, Kevin Magnuson, said he 'completely' denies the allegations and will cooperate with the league, the team and their legal departments in the forthcoming investigation. 'While we continue to gather more details, we have decided to suspend Ian Cole pending the results of an investigation. 'Our organization takes these allegations very seriously,' the team's statement read. In a statement, the Lightning said they are aware of the allegations against Cole and are cooperating fully with the NHL on an investigation. The Tampa Bay Lightning suspended defenseman Ian Cole on Sunday night pending an investigation into allegations made on social media that he sexually abused a woman when she was a minor.

Lightning tampa