TAMPA, Fla. — For a handful of seconds, the ice was his. And for the rest of time, the memory will be ours.
It was a moment fit for history, and destined for glory. The puck zipping across the ice as an icon stood implausibly alone in the faceoff circle. He drew his stick back, dropped to one knee and fired a shot that sailed past a goaltender and into the record books.
Just like that, Steven Stamkos had cashed in the final chip in one of the greatest jackpots Tampa Bay will ever know. Fourteen years, two scoring titles, four coaches, two Stanley Cups and 954 points later, Stamkos passed Marty St. Louis to become the Lightning’s all-time scoring leader.
