[ad_1]
Published:
Updated:
NEW YORK. Tampa Bay Lightning is ready for the Stanley Cup final.
They won the final drama against the New York Islanders last night, in overtime.
– Absolutely wonderful and now it will be a lot of fun to face Dallas in the final, says Victor Hedman, who made history with his ninth goal, to Sportbladet after the 2-1 win.
Yes, it will be the Tampa Bay Bay Lightning that already faces the Dallas Stars in the last hockey matchup. Most had predicted they would be, too, but the Florida favorites also didn’t parade in the last conference final against the Islanders.
Photo: JASON FRANSON / TT NEWS AGENCY
Victor Hedman certainly made sure to equal the Long Island team’s opening 1-0 goal in the first period, with his ninth goal in this year’s playoffs, unbelievably, and then Bolts held a strong playing advantage for a long time.
However, they failed to get any discs behind the supreme Semyon Varlamov and eventually leveled the Islands, even taking over in the third period. However, they did not triumph in the final either.
– It was almost like a copy of the last game. We felt like we had the advantage, but we couldn’t score, says Victor Hedman when we speak to him after the victory ceremony on the ice.
– But we were patient and “persevered” and in the end the reward came.
Yes, 13.18 in the first overtime period, Tampa finally decided the game and series. Anthony Cirelli, primarily a defensive asset in center position, appeared in front of Varlamov and managed to push off a puck that rolled slowly and wobbled over the blue line.
– I had just gotten into the ice and I saw that the puck was coming in and at first I thought “I just wasn’t offside”, although I knew it wasn’t, hehe. Then it felt absolutely wonderful, continues the backbearer from Ångermanland.
– Overall, I think we deserved to win this series and the final.
Hedman now among the super icons
“Vigge”, widely acclaimed by Nicklas Lidström on North American television broadcasts, scored another goal and is dealt second in all playoffs. But not only that: he is, along with super icons Bobby Orr and Brad Park, third on the all-time list of runners who have scored the most goals in the same playoff. And he still has at least four games left, probably more, to play in the final against the Dallas Stars.
– Yes, I don’t know what to say. I get good positions and the discs come in, he explains.
– It feels like I’m in shape, I have good speed in my legs and it feels good. There are definitely worse opportunities to splash a higher shape.
Truly. For now, the 29-year-old star will advance to the Stanley Cup final, the second in his career. He was involved and lost to Chicago in 2015.
– I hope that I and everyone else on the team benefit from that experience now, he says.
– It will be extremely fun in any case, I really want to play against Dalas.
The final starts the night before Sunday, 01:30 Swedish time.
Published:
