Bolts Claim Prince Of Wales Trophy; Stanley Cup Game 1 Saturday

TAMPA, FL — For the third time in the 28-year history of the franchise, the Tampa Bay Lightning are heading to the Stanley Cup Finals.

As Tampa city buildings were bathed in Bolts blue lights and fans celebrated at recently reopened bars and breweries, the Lightning clinched the Eastern Conference playoff championship Thursday night with a 2-1 victory over the Islanders thanks to the winning goal in overtime by center Anthony Cirelli.

With the Game 6 win and the Prince of Wales Trophy in hand, the Lightning will head into the Stanley Cup Final, hoping to bring home the coveted cup for the second time since 2004.

With just one night of downtime, the Lightning will face off against the Dallas Stars in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final at Edmonton's Rogers Place Saturday with a puck drop at 7:30 p.m.

"We won one trophy and now we're going for the next one," Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman said in a post-game news conference.

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said he doesn't mind getting only a day's rest before heading into the first game.

"If you're going to tell me, 'Hey Coop, you get to play in the Stanley Cup Final. You're only going to get 45 hours to rest before the game but you're going to get to play in it,' I'm taking that all day," he said.

To get the fans stoked for the first game of the playoff, Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Blue will host a Bolts Drive-Thru Pep Rally.

The pep rally will take place in the parking lot of Westshore Plaza, 250 Westshore Plaza, on the corner of North Westshore Boulevard and North Boulevard.

Fans will be able to pick up yard signs and promotional items while having Lightning logos and Go Bolts messages sprayed onto their cars with chalk in support of the team.

Fans attending the pep rally will be asked to remain in their cars throughout the event.

The pep rally for season ticket members is from 9 to 10 a.m. and the rally for general fans is from 10 a.m. to noon.

The official Lightning Game 1 Party Saturday at Cigar City at the Amalie Arena is sold out.

However, game day parties are being planned throughout Tampa Bay. Search Facebook to find the nearest watch party.

To celebrate the victory, the Lightning is giving back through the Lightning 50/50 Raffle. Fans can buy raffle tickets for a chance to win half the pot. The other half goes to the Lightning Foundation to be donated to the Moffitt Cancer Center and other charities in Tampa Bay.