2004 was a year and a half! Nasa placed two landers on Mars, Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl wardrobe malfunctioned and the Tampa Bay Lightning won Lord Stanley’s Cup.
In 2020, TBL defeated the Dallas Stars 2-0 in Game 6. Florida also aced the first major title decision since ‘shelter-in-place’.
TBL’s amazing win tops a whole series of firsts:
This was first Stanley Cup Finals series since 1928 played entirely in one location.
The only season since 1989 to be played entirely in Canada, and the first since 2011 where the Stanley Cup was awarded in Canada.
These were first Cup Finals since 1950 played at a neutral site.
Surprisingly, also the first Stanley Cup Finals featuring two American Sun Belt teams: (Texas and Florida).
Uniquely, COVID-19 restrictions forced this Cup Final played in September.
Finally, this were the first Stanley Cup Finals since 2002 whose losing team didn’t win a home game.
Social media stood in for live crowds. Seconds after the final buzzer on the 2019-20 NHL season, the sports world stormed Twitter. The twittersphere exploded with congratulations, commiserations and ‘being the thunder’ from TBL’s notorious 2014 billboard.
TBL’s 2004 win – under head coach John Tortorella – beat the Calgary Flames 2-1 in Game 7. Tampa’s made 12 playoff seasons and three final appearances. Head coach Jon Cooper carried Tampa to the Cup finals in 2015, losing 2-0 in Game 6 to the Chicago Blackhawks.