Lightning defeat Canadiens in Game 5 to win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships!

The long and arduous journey is now over, and it's a familiar result! 

For the second straight season, the Tampa Bay Lightning are Stanley Cup champions, completing their title quest with a 1-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in front of a raucous crowd at Amalie Arena in tonight's Game 5.

In doing so, they become the 3rd team since the Detroit Red Wings (1997 and 1998) and Pittsburgh Penguins (2016 and 2017) to repeat as champions. 

It was rookie Ross Colton who broke the ice after nearly 34 minutes of scoreless hockey, tipping in a perfect pass from defenseman David Savard from the face-off circle past goaltender Carey Price late in the 2nd period. It was all the offense needed for goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, who made 22 saves for the shutout.

Tampa's core of Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, Vasilevskiy and Brayden Point all now have a second championship ring to put on their fingers, while forward Patrick Maroon becomes the 1st NHL player in several decades to win three straight Cup titles with multiple teams. Savard, who was acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets, picked up his first ever title. 

Meanwhile, it's a disappointing end for the jumpstart Canadiens, who overcame the odds with a shocking Round 1 series victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, followed by a sweep of the favored Winnipeg Jets and then earning their 1st berth in the Final in 28 years with a six-game win over the mighty Vegas Golden Knights.