For the Lightning, Wednesday’s Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Avalanche commences one last challenge in their bid to become the first team in nearly 40 years to win three straight titles.
But for Tampa forward Pat Maroon, there’s the potential to pull off an even rarer feat: The 34-year-old is looking to win four in a row — joining only 44 other NHLers.
It’s a scenario the 34-year-old — who has never scored more than 43 points in a season — likely wouldn’t have imagined when he initially joined Tampa on a one-year, $900,000 deal in 2019.
- Maroon, who won the first Cup with his hometown Blues in 2019, hasn’t had a losing postseason since his stint with the Devils in 2018
- He re-upped with Tampa for another two years and $2 million ($1 million AAV) this winter.
- In 138 career playoff games, he’s scored only 22 goals — but that tally includes six game-winners.
Maroon would be keeping company with 16 members of the 1980-83 Islanders, who reeled off four straight Cups in that span.
And with a year remaining on his deal, he could join an even more exclusive club if the Lightning win No. 3.
Only 11 players — all members of the Canadiens’ 1956-60 dynasty — have won five Cups in a row.
