For the third consecutive year, the Tampa Bay Lightning will be playing for a Stanley Cup championship after a 2-1 win over the New York Rangers Saturday night.
Steven Stamkos scored the opening goal with just over 9 minutes to play in the second period giving the Bolts a 1-0 lead heading into the third. Frank Vatrano would get the Rangers on the board with just under seven minutes remaining.
Stamkos would score his second goal of the game just 21-seconds later giving the Lightning the go-ahead goal.
The Lightning now advance to the Stanley Cup Finals where they will face the Western Conference Champion Colorado Avalanche. Tampa Bay is the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion and is looking to be the first team to win three straight cups since the New York Islanders in 1983 and just the second expansion team in history to do so.
The Avalanche are making their first finals appearance since 2001. Colorado won that series defeating the New Jersey Devils in seven games.
Game one of the Stanley Cup Final will be played Wednesday at the Ball Arena in Colorado.
