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The Prince of Wales Trophy is awarded to the winner of the Eastern conference and after tonight’s 2-1 win over the New York Islanders, Lightning took home the semifinal series with 3-2 in games.
Traditionally, the team that wins the NHL East or West Group rarely touches the trophy.
Out of superstition, he is believed to sabotage the chances of winning the championship title and lifting the gigantic Stanley Cup buckle.
The Dallas Stars did not touch the Clarence Campbell Bowl earlier this week after beating the Vegas Golden Knights and securing their last spot.
The whole team hung around NHL deputy commissioner and awards presenter Bill Daly, but only for traditional photography.
Hedman raised the trophy
Dallas team captain Jamie Benn left the trophy on the ice as the team stepped into the locker room.
Tampa Bay dispatched its three assistant team captains Victor Hedman, Alex Killorn and Ryan McDonagh last night, then waited for injured captain Steven Stamkos before starting the shootout.
Then the rest of the team arrived and when those photos were taken, Hedman lifted the trophy again and took it in his arms as he exited the ice and made his way to the locker room.
When Killorn was asked in the subsequent press conference how he had made the bold decision, he only laughed and said that the players before the game had decided to ignore all the unwritten rules and all superstition and instead celebrate the success of lift the dent.
Now he has just one day off for Tampa Bay before it’s time to face the Dallas Stars in a best-of-seven final series, which begins the night before Sunday Swedish time.
– It will be a series with high speed of two skilled teams in good shape, of course, Hedman tells SportExpressen.
