Michael Traikos

LATEST STORIES BY MICHAEL TRAIKOS

TRAIKOS: Matthews wonders what would have happened had Leafs beat Lightning; calls McDavid the MVP

TAMPA — Auston Matthews, who scored a league-best 60 goals this season, took home both the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award on Tuesday night.

June 22, 2022 NHL

Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid (97) battles Toronto Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews (34) during first period NHL action at Rogers Place in Edmonton, on Jan. 28, 2021.

TRAIKOS: Ex-Sens forward Nick Paul 'showing all playoffs what he’s made of' for Lightning

The war of attrition claimed a couple of more casualties the other night.

with Video

June 21, 2022 NHL

Nicholas Paul of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Mikko Rantanen of the Colorado Avalanche battle for the puck during the first period in Game Three of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 20, 2022 in Tampa, Florida.

TRAIKOS: Lightning show why they are two-time defending champs in 6-2 statement win in Game 3

TAMPA — Don’t stress out about the score.

June 21, 2022 NHL

Pat Maroon of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates after scoring a goal against Darcy Kuemper of the Colorado Avalanche.

TRAIKOS: How has Corey Perry 'wormed' his way to a third straight Stanley Cup final?

TAMPA, Fla. — Like a gambler riding a hot hand, Corey Perry sure knows how to pick ‘em.

June 20, 2022 Sports

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Corey Perry (10) is playing in his third championship final in the past three years — all with different teams.

TRAIKOS: The legend of Andrei Vasileskiy grew after he allowed seven goals — and stayed in the game

DENVER — In its own weird way, the legend of Andrei Vasilevskiy kind of grew during the 7-0 blowout loss to Colorado in Game 2.

June 19, 2022 Sports

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy allowed seven goals against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 2 on Saturday night, yet he remained in net. The last time he was pulled in the playoffs was on May 11, 2018.

TRAIKOS: Three straight Stanley Cup appearances may have taken its toll on Tampa Bay

DENVER — There is a mathematical formula to being physically exhausted and it goes something like this. What do the Lightning need to do?

June 19, 2022 Sports

Erik Cernak of the Tampa Bay Lightning looks up at the clock during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday in Denver.

TRAIKOS: Avalanche blows out Lightning to take 2-0 series lead in Stanley Cup final

DENVER — So this is what getting caught in an avalanche looks like.

June 19, 2022 Sports

Darren Helm of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates after scoring a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday night at Ball Arena in Denver.

TRAIKOS: Whoever the Habs draft at No. 1 should not spend next year in the NHL

DENVER — Shane Wright and a few other top prospects in next month’s NHL Entry Draft had just spent several star-struck minutes watching Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon sprint around the ice before Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final. So when asked if they would be willing to put their NHL dreams on hold for another year of developing at the major-junior level, they obviously scoffed at the idea.

June 18, 2022 Sports

Shane Wright of the Kingston Frontenacs is the No. 1-ranked North American prospect for the 2022 NHL draft.

TRAIKOS: Will Makar go another game without a shot? Not likely, says Tampa Bay coach

DENVER — For only the fifth time in Colorado’s games in the 2022 NHL playoffs, Cale Makar failed to record a point in the Avalanche’s 4-3 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final.

June 18, 2022 NHL

Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche carries the puck in front of Anthony Cirelli of the Tampa Bay Lightning during Game 1 of the 2022 Stanley Cup final at Ball Arena in Denver on June 15, 2022.

TRAIKOS: Stamkos could be on the verge of becoming 'the greatest captain'

DENVER — The other day, a reporter went around asking Tampa Bay players at the Stanley Cup final who on their team would be the most likely to trade in their skates for a front-office job once their career comes to an end.

with Video

June 17, 2022 NHL

Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos speaks during media day for the 2022 Stanley Cup Final at Ball Arena.

Michael Traikos

LATEST STORIES BY MICHAEL TRAIKOS

TRAIKOS: Matthews wonders what would have happened had Leafs beat Lightning; calls McDavid the MVP

TRAIKOS: Ex-Sens forward Nick Paul 'showing all playoffs what he’s made of' for Lightning

TRAIKOS: Lightning show why they are two-time defending champs in 6-2 statement win in Game 3

TRAIKOS: How has Corey Perry 'wormed' his way to a third straight Stanley Cup final?

TRAIKOS: The legend of Andrei Vasileskiy grew after he allowed seven goals — and stayed in the game

TRAIKOS: Three straight Stanley Cup appearances may have taken its toll on Tampa Bay

TRAIKOS: Avalanche blows out Lightning to take 2-0 series lead in Stanley Cup final

TRAIKOS: Whoever the Habs draft at No. 1 should not spend next year in the NHL

TRAIKOS: Will Makar go another game without a shot? Not likely, says Tampa Bay coach

TRAIKOS: Stamkos could be on the verge of becoming 'the greatest captain'

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