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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

NYC: Come To Our WNBA Comedy Show On May 16

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Live Event

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Lauren Theisen

Andrei Vasilevskiy and Aleksander Barkov shake hands after the Panthers win

Tampa Bay Lightning v Florida Panthers – Game Five

There’s Nothing Special About The Lightning Anymore

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Barry Petchesky

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This Puck Didn’t Go In

TAMPA, FL - MARCH 27: Tanner Jeannot #84 of the Tampa Bay Lightning battles for the puck against goalie Linus Ullmark #35 of the Boston Bruins during the third period at Amalie Arena on March 27, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images)

Boston Bruins v Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning Are Almost Ready For Their Real Season To Begin

Mikhail Sergachev grabs the stick of Auston Matthews

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The Leafs Are As Nerve-Racking As Ever

Tampa Bay Lightning v Toronto Maple Leafs – Game One

The Leafs Must Empty Their Minds Of Game 1

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Ray Ratto

2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final – Game Six

The NHL Season Doesn’t End Until The Lightning Tell Everyone How Banged Up They Were

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 26: Gabriel Landeskog #92 of the Colorado Avalanche lifts the Stanley Cup after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game Six of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 26, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Greatness Isn’t Enough

DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 24: Ondrej Palat #18 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates a goal during the third period in Game Five of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on June 24, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final – Game Five

Ondrej Palat Is Always Right Where You Need Him

2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final – Game Four

Colorado Won Ugly

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 22: Nazem Kadri #91 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning to win 3-2 overtime in Game Four of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 22, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

Sorry, That Was A Good Goal

2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final – Game Three

The Lightning Tried Turning It Off And Back On Again

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Albert Burneko

Colorado Avalanche score against Tampa Bay Lightning, Game 2 Stanley Cup Final

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All Seven Goals In Colorado’s Blowout Game 2 Win, Graded

Andre Burakovsky celebrates with teammates

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Game 1 Delivered On The Hype

TAMPA, FLORIDA - MAY 08: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning looks to pass in the second period during Game Four of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Amalie Arena on May 08, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Toronto Maple Leafs v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game Four

Brayden Point Changes Everything

New York Rangers v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game Six

Steven Stamkos Won’t Let Go Of The Cup Without A Fight

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 09: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning makes the save on Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on June 09, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Rangers – Game Five

The Lightning Will Bow Out When They’re Good And Ready

New York Rangers v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game Four

This Dang Pat Maroon Is Still Winning

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The Lightning Finally Struck

SUNRISE, FL - MAY 19: Ross Colton #79 of the Tampa Bay Lightning raises his stick after scoring the go ahead goal against Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Florida Panthers in Game Two of the Second Round of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the FLA Live Arena on May 19, 2022 in Sunrise, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Panthers 2-1. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ross Colton;Sergei Bobrovsky

Tampa Bay Lightning v Florida Panthers – Game Two

The Lightning Feed Off Crushed Hopes And Dreams

TORONTO, ON - MAY 14: Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during Game Seven of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 14, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ( Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty images) *** Local Caption *** Nikita Kucherov

Tampa Bay Lightning v Toronto Maple Leafs – Game Seven

Nikita Kucherov’s Skating At You With A Full Head Of Steam. What Do You Do?

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Justin Ellis

Leafs-Lightning Was Always Going To Leave Someone Haunted

It’s Penalty Killing Season

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 20: Alec Martinez #23 of the Vegas Golden Knights defends the net against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on February 20, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Lightning 5-3. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Tampa Bay Lightning v Vegas Golden Knights

One Last Hockey Game, For All The Spike Proteins

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

The Lightning Are As Perfect As Any NHL Team Can Be

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