Despite love for both, Morrow 'still rooting for' Stars over Lightning

If anyone knows the inner workings of the two teams competing in the 2020 Stanley Cup Final, it's Brenden Morrow.
A first-round draft pick of the Stars in 1997, Morrow ranks fifth all-time on the franchise games played list at 835. He left the Stars in 2013 and finished out his career with stints in Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Tampa. That final year allowed Morrow to get back to the Stanley Cup Final with the Lightning, and he still has several friends from that 2014-15 team.
It makes for some interesting nights watching television.

"I know Tampa players differently than I know Dallas players. I've played with probably 12-15 of the Tampa players, so that is different," Morrow said.
"But I'm still rooting for Dallas. That's my team."

Morrow this season helped Marty Turco in business and hockey development for the Stars, but the structure of the front office could change going forward, so he's not sure where that's headed. He has been working as an ambassador with Discovery Land Companies, and likely will be dedicating his time to that venture.
As for watching hockey, he's been tuned in.
Morrow was coached by Jon Cooper in Tampa, and was teammates with Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, Tyler Johnson, Andrei Vasilevskiy and Ondrej Palat among others. He also was coached by Rick Bowness and played with Ben Bishop, who are now with the Stars. And while he's familiar with the tendencies of the individuals, he said he doesn't really look at games strategically.
"I'm watching it like a fan, but yeah, you're saying the obvious things: `Stay 5-on-5, Dallas, don't give Tampa a power play.'" Morrow said with a chuckle. "I just enjoy watching, I don't really look at like a coach or a scout. I just think the team that outworks the other team has got the best chance to win. If you're skating harder and getting pucks to the net, you're going to give yourself a better opportunity to win."
He played the game with the same attitude. Morrow said having his two teams in the Final does let him look back on his career. He said that getting to the 2000 Final as a rookie filled his head with the belief that he could do it every season. He said a 15-year career that ended with him getting his trip back to the Final with the Lightning taught him to appreciate the moment.

"You're naïve and you're young and they won the Cup the year before, so you think you're going to get plenty of chances at this. Y'know, we'll do it next year," he said. "It's just being a young kid. Then to go through it and not get back until your final year, it's hard. You wish you could tell your younger self to really enjoy it, but that's just not how it works. So, I do think when I got back with Tampa, I did enjoy it a lot more."
When asked what players are thinking with the series tied 1-1 and them playing three games in four nights coming up. Would you realize that these could be three of the most important games of your career?
"No, you have to focus on the next game," he said. "So, even before Game 3, I don't think they can be thinking that way. You can't be saying, `I hope I play well, because I may never get this opportunity again.' They're focused on the next game and the next shift and what they can do right now, and that's really the right focus. I think that's helped both teams get to this point."
Morrow served as Stars captain for seven seasons, from 2006 to 2013. He has been a big help to Jamie Benn, who has been the Stars captain since 2013. Both Morrow and Benn play a physically bruising style. Both are leaders by example, so Morrow said he's happy Benn is playing so well.
"He pulls the team into the fight and you can see that right now," Morrow said. "He's making other players better."

Morrow said he understands the criticism of Benn, who tallied 39 points in 69 games during the regular season, but he also knows how hard it is to play a physical style every night.
"I know some people wish he did that more often, but it's hard to play that way every night, and it's even harder in today's game where it's so fast and you can't really catch people to be able to play that physical game," Morrow said. "He would be the first to tell you that he didn't have a great season. But he worked hard and got ready for the playoffs, and he's playing his ass off, and I think you just have to appreciate that and be pretty happy with where you are right now."
Morrow definitely is. He's getting to watch two teams he cares about go head to head in a titanic battle.
"What's great is they're the two best teams with the two best goalies, and they've earned this," he said. "I think it's going to be a great series, and it will be great for either team if they win.
"There are great guys on both teams, and they both deserve this."

Game 3: Stars vs. Lightning (series tied 1-1)

Tonight, 7 p.m. CT
Where:Rogers Place, Edmonton
TV:NBCSN
Radio:The Ticket 96.7-FM, 1310-AM
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika, and listen to his podcast.