NHL Eastern Conference Race Still Runs Through ‘Champa Bay’

Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point hoists the Stanley Cup after the team defeated the Montreal Canadiens in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals in Tampa, Fla., July 7, 2021. Phelan Ebenhack/AP Photo, File

It’s going on 40 years since the NHL last celebrated a three-peat Stanley Cup champion as part of the New York Islanders’ run of four straight titles from 1980-83.

The Lightning have won two straight, and defenseman Victor Hedman doesn’t see why Tampa Bay can’t make it three in a row despite another offseason of salary cap-forced subtractions.