The Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday completed their second consecutive romp through the N.H.L. postseason, defeating the Montreal Canadiens, four games to one, in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup finals series to win their third title in franchise history.
Nine-and-a-half months after enduring a 65-day stay in Canadian playoff bubbles to hoist the silver chalice, the Lightning beat the Canadiens, 1-0, in Game 5 on home ice at Amalie Arena. In doing so, they join the Pittsburgh Penguins, in 2016-17, as the only teams in the last 15 years, since the dawn of the salary cap era, to repeat as champions.