Stanley Cup finals Notes

The Stanley Cup finals get started tonight in Tampa Bay, with the home team Lightning (Tampa Bay) hosting the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks are seeking their third title in six seasons, after not winning the title for 49 years from 1961-2010.

The Lightning won in their only Stanley Cup final appearance, defeating the Calgary Flames in 2004.

Current Blackhawks’ player then with the Lightning, Brad Richards, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the outstanding player of the playoffs that season.

In the Lightning’s last three semi- finals or this final appearance, the three Lightning opponents were the three teams their broadcaster Phil Esposito played for in the NHL: the Boston Bruins, who beat the Lightning in the 2011 semis, the New York Rangers, whom the Lightning just beat in this year’s semis and now the Chicago Blackhawks.