Lightning win Stanley Cup, defeat Stars in Game 6 of Final

The Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup by defeating the Dallas Stars 2-0 in Game 6 of the Final at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Monday.

The Lightning previously won the Cup in 2004.
"It's the best moment of our hockey lives," Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman said. "So many emotions. It's going to take months for it to sink in, but we're going to be champions forever, we're going to be on that Cup forever. … It's what you imagine all your life."
WATCH: [All Lightning vs. Stars Game 6 highlights]
Hedman was voted the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He scored 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in 25 games.
Andrei Vasilevskiy made 22 saves for his first shutout of the postseason and 18th win in his 25th start. He was the only goalie to play for the Lightning in the postseason.
"About time," Vasilevskiy said of getting his first shutout. "I said that already in the locker room. Just amazing. Obviously, we played extremely well, just gave up a few scoring chances. Just grateful that the shutout happened tonight at the most important time in our lives."
RELATED: [Complete Stanley Cup Final coverage]
Anton Khudobin made 27 saves for the Stars, who were limited to eight shots on goal through the second period.
Dallas was shut out for the third time in the playoffs, the first time in the best-of-7 Stanley Cup Final.
"Anyone who has ever won a Stanley Cup will tell you you've got to be lucky and you've got to be healthy," Stars coach Rick Bowness said. "I'm proud of our players. They gave us everything they could. Was there enough in the tank tonight? No, there wasn't. But it's a credit to our players with everything we've been through to get to Game 6. I'm very proud of them and very proud to be their coach."

Brayden Point scored his NHL-leading 14th goal of the postseason, and Blake Coleman scored his only goal of the Cup Final.
Nikita Kucherov had an assist on Point's goal and finished with an NHL-leading 34 points (seven goals, 27 assists) in 25 games. Point scored 33 points (14 goals, 19 assists) in 23 games.
Kucherov and Point each closed the Cup Final on a five-game point streak.
"He's such a special player and he sees the ice so well and he works so hard on different skills or different plays that he thinks can be translated into games," Point said of Kucherov. "Then we've got [Ondrej Palat] too, who had a fantastic playoffs, who blocked shots and scored some big goals and grinded in the corners. It's easy to play with guys like that, who care so much and who are willing to do everything to win."
Hedman received the Stanley Cup second, getting it from Lightning captain Steven Stamkos, who accepted the trophy from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.
"To watch 'Heddy' win that Conn Smythe, to be the best player in the world in the playoffs, and to just watch our relationship grow to where it is today, it's just love and admiration," Stamkos said. "This is one of the best feelings in the world, and I am so thankful that I get to share this moment with Heddy."
Stamkos was limited to one game in the postseason because of a lower-body injury, scoring a goal in 2:47 of ice time in Game 3 of the Cup Final on Sept. 23, a 5-2 win.

Point gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead at 12:23 of the first period, putting in his own rebound 25 seconds into a power play after Kucherov gave him a pass in space to allow him to skate in close for the initial shot.
The Lightning were 7-for-16 on the power play Games 2-6 after going 0-for-3 in Game 1.
"We just had belief," Point said. "We believed we could do it. We stuck to our system, never got to high, never got too low, and the result is the Cup. Couldn't be happier."
Coleman made it 2-0 at 7:01 of the second period, scoring on a one-timer from the right face-off circle off the rush.
"It's everything you work for as a hockey player," Coleman said of winning the Cup. "A little heavier than I thought, but it's unbelievable."

Pat Maroon started the play that led to Coleman's goal by knocking down the puck in the neutral zone. Maroon, who had an assist, won the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues last season.
"Most people don't get the chance to play in the Stanley Cup Final," Maroon said. "I got to go back-to-back and win, so I got the chills talking about this. What an amazing feeling."
The Lightning killed a Stars power play that started at 15:27 of the third period to preserve the shutout. They were 3-for-3 on the penalty kill and 18-for-19 in the series.
"This one stings a lot," Dallas defenseman John Klingberg said. "It hurts. It hurts a lot. This is the dream to play on the biggest stage in the world, and you end up losing. It stings. It hurts."

Tampa Bay was 18-7-0 in the postseason, including 16-6 in the playoffs after going 2-1-0 in the round-robin portion of the Stanley Cup Qualifiers.
The Lightning were 6-0 in games following a loss in the playoffs.
"We can't wait to get back to Tampa tomorrow and celebrate with our families and the fans of the Tampa Bay Lightning," Hedman said. "We're so, so happy."