Lightning Fever Strikes Tampa; Bolts Intent On Repeat Of Monday

TAMPA, FL —Lightning fever has struck Tampa for the second straight year.

Following Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals Monday in which the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-1 at Amalie Arena, fans are pulling out all stops to cheer on the Bolts as the team battles to win the Stanley Cup for the second straight year.

Among those fans is Tampa Mayor Jane Castor who tweeted a victory call seconds after the game ended.

Prior to Monday's game, Castor ordered that Old City Hall, 306 E. Jackson St., and downtown bridges be illuminated with Lightning blue lights and "Go Bolts" flags raised at all Tampa public buildings.

"This week, Tampa becomes the first city to host the Super Bowl, WrestleMania and the Stanley Cup Final all within five months," Castor said. "The city of Tampa is proud to join fans to be the thunder and light up blue in support of the Tampa Bay Lightning."

The fans' excitement was evident during a drive-through pep rally Sunday where hundreds of Bolts besties snagged swag, car decorations and yard signs.

To accommodate fans vying for a chance to see the Bolts play for the Stanley Cup on home ice, the Tampa Bay Lightning released additional tickets to Monday's and Wednesday's games for a capacity of 16,300 in Amalie Arena.

Fans were unable to attend any of last year's Stanley Cup best of seven series between the Lightning and the Dallas Stars due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The entire series was played without spectators Sept. 19-28 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Canada.

The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated Dallas, winning four games to the Stars' two wins, and taking home the Stanley Cup for the second time in the team's history.

Lightning Is Born

When the National Hockey League announced it was expanding in the 1980s and former Hall of Famers Phil and Tony Esposito announced it was bidding for a franchise in Tampa, critics said the game would never catch on in a subtropical climate.

After all, it hadn't snowed in Tampa since 1977 and the only ice around with the cubes clinking in margaritas and mojitos.

Nevertheless, the Esposito brothers won the expansion franchise on Dec. 6, 1990, naming the team Lightning after Tampa Bay's dubious reputation as the Lightning capital of North America.

The Lightning officially joined the NHL and played its first season in 1992-93 with Phil Esposito as president and general manager of the franchise. Just four seasons later, the Lightning made their first appearance in the playoffs.

An Auspicious Start

The Bolts' performance Monday night exemplified why the team is considered the best in the league, said Coach Jon Cooper.

Just six minutes into the game, 24-year-old Slovakia-born Bolts defenseman, Erik Cernak, scored on the Canadiens' goaltender, Carey Price, with assists from Czech-born winger Ondrej Palat, age 30, and 25-year-old Canadian-born center Brayden Point.

It was followed by a second goal early in the second period when 29-year-old Canadian-born center Yanni Gourde tipped a rebound by 29-year-old Blake Coleman of Plano, Texas, past Price.

Seventeen minutes into the second period, the Canadiens' Ben Chiarot scored the team's first and only goal on Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Although originally credited to Ondrej Palat, Bolts right winger Nikita Kucherov made the third Lightning goal in the third period with an assist from 22-year-old Russian-born defenseman Mikhail Sergachev.

Ironically, last week Cooper was uncertain if Kucherov would be able to play in the finals. The 27-year-old Russian-born star winger was out much of the season following hip surgery in December.

He then left Game 5 of the semifinals against the New York Islanders early when he took a cross-check from the Islanders' Scott Mayfield that caused him to double over in pain and promptly exit the ice.

But the 27-year-old Russian-born player rallied to play in the sixth game against the Islanders Friday in which the Lightning received the Prince of Wales Trophy and earned another shot at the Stanley Cup.

Just over 11 minutes into the third period, Kucherov scored the Lightning's fourth goal of the night with an assist from Point.

With less than two minutes remaining in the period, Lightning center Steven Stamkos scored a power play fifth goal with assists from Kucherov and Point, and winning the game.

Although Vasilevskiy, 26, from Russia, wasn't able to earn his fifth shutout in a row, he deflected 18 of the Canadiens' 19 shots Monday night.

With the first Stanley Cup Finals victory for the Bolts, Cooper said he isn't underestimating the Canadiens as they head into Game 2.

"We know most of the players and some of their tendencies," he said. "The system they are playing is pretty structured, and we have to fight our way through it."

"We just try to play the same game for 60 minutes," said Kucherov in an interview following Monday's game. "We have a plan, and we stick to it."

"That's the key," said Stamkos, age 31, from Canada. "We've learned from past mistakes where we've sat back a little bit. We let them get back in the game a little bit, let one in, but we kept the pressure on and got rewarded with some goals."

How To Cheer On The Lightning

The Lightning and Canadiens will face off in Game 2 Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Amalie Arena. The teams will then head to Montreal to play Games 3 and 4.

The Lightning expects Wednesday's matchup to be another sold-out game, although there were still tickets available Tuesday afternoon ranging $700 to $10,000.

For those who aren't lucky enough to score (or afford) a game ticket, Pepsi Zero Sugar will host a socially distanced watch party on Ford Thunder Alley outside Amalie Arena, featuring live music and giveaways. Tickets are $5 with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Lightning Foundation Charities. Pods of one to eight people are available.

The plaza will open three hours before the puck drop and those attending are permitted to bring a standard tailgate-sized chair to watch the game on the Jumbotron in comfort. There will be food and drinks for sale in the alley. Outside food and beverages, coolers, bags, and tents are not permitted.

For the Friday, July 2 and Monday, July 5, away games in Montreal, Bud Light will host watch parties in the Amalie Arena featuring live entertainment, appearances by Lightning mascot ThunderBug and other Lightning personalities, giveaways and concession specials. Both games start at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $10 with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Lightning Foundation Charities. Pods of one to six people are available. Doors open 75 minutes before the scheduled puck drop.

The Stanley Cup Finals will be back in Tampa Wednesday, July 7 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, July 11, at 7 p.m. Click here for tickets.

See related stories:

• Bolts Beat Islanders 1-0 To Head To Stanley Cup Finals
• Lightning Head Into Final Game Of Stanley Cup
• Lightning To Play Game 7 Friday After Losing To Islanders 2-3
• Lightning Strikes Twice As Bolts Head To Stanley Cup Semifinals
• Lightning Add Capacity, Release More Tickets To Sunday's Game