Champion Lightning Ace Final Exam on ‘Last Day of School’

Champion Lightning Ace Final Exam on ‘Last Day of School’
The Tampa Bay Lightning team poses with the Stanley Cup after Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals against the Montreal Canadiens, in Tampa, Fla., on July 7, 2021. Gerry Broome/AP Photo
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TAMPA, Fla—With the clock ticking on their time together, the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning talked about what they already knew was their last Stanley Cup run as a group.

They talked about it midway through the playoffs. They talked about it on the verge of reaching the final. Changes were coming, so captain Steven Stamkos and his teammates told each other, “Let’s take advantage of this opportunity.”