Lightning Celebrates Back-To-Back Stanley Cup Wins At White House

Tampa FL

25 April, 2022

4:07 PM

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TAMPA, FL — Better late than never. More than 10 months after winning back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, the Tampa Bay Lightning were officially recognized by President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday. The recognition comes just a week before the 2022 playoffs are set to begin. "I'm stating the obvious here," Biden said. "It's a pretty good time to be a sports fan in Tampa. I don't know what the hell you've got in the water down there, but the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl, the Rays won the pennant and these guys behind me became back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. And they may be here next year. Who knows?" Biden noted that, with the Lightning's Stanley Cup victory last July, the Tampa franchise became one of only eight teams in the last century to win two Stanley Cups in a row. "Folks, the victory capped off an incredible run by one of the most well-rounded teams in recent history," Biden said. Lightning owner Jeff Vinik said the visit to the White House was a long time coming, "after winning three championships — the first one of which was about 18 years ago." "We're extremely excited to make our first appearance on Pennsylvania Avenue," Vinik said. "It's been an incredible two years," said Lightning co-captain Ryan McDonagh. "First, there were 65 days in a bubble playing in arenas with no fans (due to the pandemic) but we embraced the challenge and, boy, did it pay off. For the second championship run, we started the season with no fans in the building. But, at the end, we won (the Stanley Cup) in front of a packed arena with our family and friends." McDonagh added, as the Lightning head into this year's playoffs, "we're going to battle hard to win another. The quest for a third cup is not out of reach." The National Hockey League season officially ends Friday, with the playoffs starting Monday, May 2, with 16 (eight from the Western Conference and eight from the Eastern Conference) of the 32 league teams playing. The top three finishers in each conference and two wildcard teams will then vie for the championship. According to PlayoffStatus.com, the Lightning has claimed a berth in the Atlantic Division. Here's how the teams stand in the post-season lineup: Atlantic Division Florida Panthers - 57-16-6 (120 points)Toronto Maple Leafs - 52-21-7 (111 points)*Tampa Bay Lightning - 49-22-8 (106 points) Metropolitan Division Carolina Hurricanes - 52-21-8 record (112 points)New York Rangers - 51-22-6 (108 points)Pittsburgh Penguins - 45-24-11 (101 points) Eastern Conference Wild Card Boston Bruins - 49-25-5 (103 points)Washington Capitals - 44-23-12 (100 points) Central Division Colorado Avalanche - 55-18-6 (116 points)Minnesota Wild - 51-21-7 (109 points)St. Louis Blue - 49-20-11 (109 points) Pacific Division Calgary Flames - 49-20-10 (108 points)Edmonton Oilers - 46-27-6 (98 points)Los Angeles Kings - 43-27-10 (96 points) Western Conference Wild Card Nashville Predators - 44-29-6 (94 points)Dallas Stars - 44-30-5 (93 points)Vegas Golden Knights - 42-31-6 (90 points)