The Lightning won it before their home fans--something they couldn't do the previous season--when Ross Colton scored the only goal of the match. Goalie Andrei Vasilevskyiy, who shut down the Canadiens for much of the series, was named recipient of the Conn Smythe trophy as the outstanding player of the finals.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the NHL to shorten this past season to 56 games starting in January, with play restricted to teams playing each other within their own divisions and crowds gradually admitted inside arenas. Still, that didn't stop some teams from shuffling their schedules due to players catching the virus.
The playoffs began in mid-May, a little later than usual. The Lightning went through the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders to get to the finals. The Canadiens got past the Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets and Vegas Golden Knights to attain their first final since 1993. They were also the last Canadian-based team to win the Cup that year.
This was also the final year for NBC to televise NHL games, dating back to the post-lockout year of 2005, which happens to be the longest relationship the league has ever had with an American TV network. ESPN, ABC and Turner Sports will take over coverage next season.
To close, two things. First, Tom Brady of the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers should not be allowed anywhere near the Stanley Cup. He's already notorious for tossing the Lombardi trophy to a teammate during the victory parade.
Second, and most important: May we never see hockey in July ever again.
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