After Celebrating Back-To-Back Stanley Cups At White House, Lightning To Go For 3rd

TAMPA, FL — Better late than never. More than 10 months after winning back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, the Tampa Bay Lightning were officially recognized by President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday.

The recognition comes just a week before the 2022 playoffs are set to begin.

"I'm stating the obvious here," Biden said. "It's a pretty good time to be a sports fan in Tampa. I don't know what the hell you've got in the water down there, but the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl, the Rays won the pennant and these guys behind me became back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. And they may be here next year. Who knows?"

Biden noted that, with the Lightning's Stanley Cup victory last July, the Tampa franchise became one of only eight teams in the last century to win two Stanley Cups in a row.

"Folks, the victory capped off an incredible run by one of the most well-rounded teams in recent history," Biden said.

Lightning owner Jeff Vinik said the visit to the White House was a long time coming, "after winning three championships — the first one of which was about 18 years ago."

"We're extremely excited to make our first appearance on Pennsylvania Avenue," Vinik said.

"It's been an incredible two years," said Lightning co-captain Ryan McDonagh. "First, there were 65 days in a bubble playing in arenas with no fans (due to the pandemic) but we embraced the challenge and, boy, did it pay off. For the second championship run, we started the season with no fans in the building. But, at the end, we won (the Stanley Cup) in front of a packed arena with our family and friends."

McDonagh added, as the Lightning head into this year's playoffs, "we're going to battle hard to win another. The quest for a third cup is not out of reach."

According to PlayoffStatus.com, the Lightning has claimed a berth in the Atlantic Division as they head into the final game of the season Friday against the Islanders, but their chances are looking a bit more bleak after their Tuesday night 3-4 loss to the Red Wings and Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Blue Jackets.

Sixteen of the NHL's 32 league teams will make it to the playoffs — eight from the Western Conference and eight from the Eastern Conference.

The top three finishers of both divisions and two wildcard teams will make it into the playoffs, playing in eight first-round matchups.

As of Friday, here are the post-season probabilities of winning the championship:

• The Panthers have a 22 percent chance of winning the Stanley Cup.
• The Avalanche have a 17 percent chance of winning the cup.
• The Hurricanes have a 9 percent chance.
• The Western Wildcard Team has an 8 percent chance.
• The Maple Leafs have a 7 percent chance.
• The Flames have a 6 percent chance.
• The Rangers have a 6 percent chance.
• The Oilers have a 5 percent chance.
• The Bruins also have a 5 percent chance.
• The Blues have a 4 percent chance.
• The Lightning have a 4 percent chance.
• The Predators have a 2 percent chance.
• The Stars have a 1 percent chance.
• The Kings have a 1 percent chance.
• The Penguins have a 1 percent chance.
• The Capitals have a 1 percent chance.