The 2020 National Hockey League Stanley Cup has finally been awarded. The Tampa Bay Lightning finally claimed their prize, defeating the Dallas Stars in six games on Sept. 28. 

Lightning defenseman Victor Headman won the Conn Smyth Trophy, for being the most valuable player in the playoffs.

“I believe Tampa is going to win,” Bruce Davidson, a junior communication student at Waynesburg University said.

Davidson was confident in his Stanley Cup Finals prediction even though he didn’t have either team there when the playoffs started on August 1.

“I think it may go six this year because Tampa will do a Virginia Cavaliers impression,” Davidson said. “They got embarrassed last year, so they are trying to make up for it and sweep it under the rug by doing the only thing they can do which is winning it all.”

Not only did his prediction prove to be correct, but he also wasn’t the only one thinking of the Virginia Cavaliers when the Lightning hoisted the cup.

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper had a Cavaliers hat during his post-game press conference. He even mentioned how the Lightning had looked to the Cavaliers for inspiration.

Tampa’s 2020 road to Lord Stanley was very similar to the Washington Capitals run in 2018. 

Both teams failed to meet expectations for many seasons. The Lightning won a historic 62 games in the 2019-2020 NHL season, but couldn’t buy a win when they were swept by an eighth-seeded Columbus Blue Jackets team.

Luckily for the Lightning, they were able to right that wrong this season beating the Blue Jackets in five games.

The Capitals had their struggles before the 2018 playoffs, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round two straight seasons in 2016 and 2017. After the Lightning beat the Blue Jackets this year, all bets were off, and they charged right to the finals. The Capitals had a similar story in 2018, finding life after finally getting past the Penguins.

Although Tampa already had a Stanley Cup win in 2004 over the Calgary Flames, the feeling of relief is similar to what the Capitals felt in 2018. Both teams finally won following years of struggles and disappointment.

Although Tampa’s win is a great story, it’s a shame the playoffs were so different due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Tampa won the cup in the Edmonton bubble without a packed arena full of fans.

Tampa’s win will always be remembered due to the unusual circumstances. None of the teams had a true home-ice experience, especially in the Stanley Cup Finals.

“I think it has a disadvantage for both teams,” Bryant Bauer junior Marketing major at Waynesburg University said. “Can you imagine Dallas’ home arena? No one thought they would be here. The fans would be nuts. And Tampa Bay finally having a chance to win the cup after choking for so many years? The atmospheres would be incredible.”