Tampa Bay Lightning advances to Stanley Cup Finals for third time

• The Bolts reach the Stanley Cup Finals back-to-back three times.
• The Lightening will face Avalanche in the Finals.
• Colorado will look to win their debut Stanley Cup.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will return to the Stanley Cup Finals for the third consecutive season after defeating the New York Rangers 2-1 to win the Eastern Conference final.

The Lightning, who trailed 2-0 in the best-of-seven series, won their fourth consecutive game to win the series 4-2 and go to the Western Conference championship series against Colorado Avalanche.

Read more: Tampa Bay Lightening beats New York Rangers to level NHL East series

The Avalanche will host the first game of the Stanley Cup final in Denver one June 14.

“These are the games you live for as a kid,” said Canada’s Stamkos. “It was everything I thought it would be and more, to give ourselves a chance to go to the final three years in a row is something that’s amazing and to have a part in it tonight was certainly icing on the cake.

“It was an unbelievable team effort,” Stamkos added after Tampa Bay dominated possession throughout the contest.

Since the Edmonton Oilers in 1983-1985, they are the only team to reach three consecutive Stanley Cup finals.

Stamkos conceded that the Lightning got off to a sluggish start in the series following a nine-day rest after sweeping the Florida Panthers in the previous round.

“We stuck with it,” he said. “There’s no panic on this team.”

Read more: Colorado Avalanche eyes third Stanley Cup since 1996

Now, they face a strong opponent in the Avalanche, who ousted the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference final to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2001.

The Avs will attempt to win their third Stanley Cup, having previously won in 1996.

“We know what it takes,” Stamkos said. “But now we’ve got the best team in the league in the Colorado Avalanche. They have it all.

“We have a huge challenge, but tonight we’ll enjoy the victory.”