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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

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Barry Petchesky

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JULY 07: The Tampa Bay Lightning celebrate after defeating the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in Game Five to win the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on July 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

2021 NHL Stanley Cup Final – Game Five

This Shit Is Hard

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Lauren Theisen

The Lightning Are As Perfect As Any NHL Team Can Be

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - JULY 05: Josh Anderson #17 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates with Jeff Petry #26 after scoring the game-winning goal to give his team the 3-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first overtime period in Game Four of the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the Bell Centre on July 05, 2021 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)

2021 NHL Stanley Cup Final – Game Four

The Canadiens Deserved That

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 30: Blake Coleman #20 of the Tampa Bay Lightning scores against Carey Price #31 of the Montreal Canadiens during the second period in Game Two of the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 30, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

2021 NHL Stanley Cup Final – Game Two

The Margin Of Error Against The Lightning Is 1.1 Seconds

Ben Chiarot knocks the puck past his own goalie

2021 NHL Stanley Cup Final – Game One

This Looks Real Bad For Montreal

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 28: Victor Hedman #77 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates a goal by Yanni Gourde past Carey Price #31 of the Montreal Canadiens during the third period in Game One of the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 28, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

The Lightning Have A Plan For That

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Ray Ratto

MONTREAL, QC - JANUARY 02: Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning watches the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at the Bell Centre on January 2, 2020 in Montreal, Canada. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Montreal Canadiens 2-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

Tampa Bay Lightning v Montreal Canadiens

Your Stanley Cup Rooting Interest Is A Measure Of Your Generosity

Anthony Beauvillier celebrates after scoring

Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Six

So, Do You Believe?

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This Is So Stupid

Céline Dion, How Could You?

New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game Five

That Was An Ass-Kicking

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - JUNE 20: Robin Lehner #90 of the Vegas Golden Knights makes the save against Phillip Danault #24 of the Montreal Canadiens during the second period in Game Four of the Stanley Cup Semifinals of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre on June 20, 2021 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

Vegas Golden Knights v Montreal Canadiens – Game Four

Vegas Has The Best Kind Of Goalie Controversy

I Didn’t Know A Puck Could Fit In Here

Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 and Thanasis Antetokounmpo #43 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrate the win of game seven of the Eastern Conference second round at Barclays Center on June 19, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Brooklyn Nets 115-111 in overtime to win the series.

Milwaukee Bucks v Brooklyn Nets – Game Seven

Defensive Heroics Made For A Wild Night In The NBA And NHL Playoffs

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Gah!

New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game Two

Tampa’s Back, Obviously

Montreal Canadiens v Vegas Golden Knights – Game One

The Knights Were So Rude To Carey Price

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 14: Carey Price #31 of the Montreal Canadiens allows a goal to Alec Martinez (not pictured) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period in Game One of the Stanley Cup Semifinals during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Don’t Just Shoot

Mathew Barzal is congratulated by Anthony Beauvillier

New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game One

Oh My God, The Islanders Started This Series Perfectly

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - JUNE 09: The New York Islanders celebrate an empty net goal by Cal Clutterbuck #15 of the New York Islanders against the Boston Bruins in Game Six of the Second Round of the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Nassau Coliseum on June 09, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Bruins 6-2 to move on to the Stanley Cup Semifinals against the Tampa Bay Lightning. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Boston Bruins v New York Islanders – Game Six

Where Weird Shit Is Status Quo

The Saints—Sorry, The ISLANDERS Might Be A Tougher Task For The Lightning This Time Around

the Lightning shake hands with the Hurricanes

Tampa Bay Lightning v Carolina Hurricanes – Game Five

Starting Now, This Won’t Be Good Enough For The Hurricanes

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 08: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning shoots and scores against Alex Nedeljkovic #39 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period in Game Five of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on June 08, 2021 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Brayden Point Plays At A Different Speed

MONTREAL, QC - JUNE 07: The Montreal Canadiens celebrate an overtime victory against the Winnipeg Jets in Game Four of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on June 7, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Winnipeg Jets 3-2 in overtime and eliminate them with a 4-0 series win. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

2021 nhl playoffs