The Tampa Bay Lightning are heading to the Stanley Cup Final for the third consecutive season and the reward is starting on the road again against the Western Conference’s top regular-season team.
The two-time defending champions, who have lacked home-ice advantage in every round, will open at the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET, ABC) after beating the New York Rangers 2-1 in Game 6 at Amalie Arena behind two goals by captain Steven Stamkos.
“These are the games you live for as a kid,” he told ESPN.
Stamkos opened the scoring in the goaltending battle when his wrist shot eluded a partially screened Igor Shesterkin at 10:43 of the second period.