Tampa Bay Lightning

TAMPA, Fla. — Ten teams over the last three years have attempted to eliminate the Tampa Bay Lightning in the postseason as they pursued a dynasty.

From training camp, the question for the Avalanche surrounded the team’s ability to overcome past failure and finally win a title. This time, it went to Landeskog first, and then he passed it to Johnson, who has been with Colorado since a midseason trade in 2010-11. Landeskog, one of the longest-tenured members of the team along with defenseman Erik Johnson, praised Sakic, who has proved to be nearly as adept at creating a winner from the front office as he was with skates on his feet and a stick in his hand. MacKinnon was tabbed with the first pick two years later and Colorado selected Rantanen with the 10th pick in 2015. But until now, the group was unable to convert regular-season success into playoff glory, falling in the second round in each of the previous three years. As general manager, Sakic is responsible for building a team that has been widely recognized for several years as one of the emerging powerhouses in the league. “I didn’t want to be laying on the ice in the middle of our zone when they went down to score. Sakic, who also played seven seasons with the organization before its move from Quebec, was on hand once again to share in the latest celebration, this time as the general manager and architect of a club so deep in talent that it meant Tampa Bay had finally met its match. The high-flying Avalanche defeated the gallant Lightning, 2-1, in Game 6 of the finals, to capture the Stanley Cup, one of sports’ most elusive and enduring trophies. After all the mental and physical pounding, they finally gave way to a new champion. TAMPA, Fla. — Ten teams over the last three years have attempted to eliminate the Tampa Bay Lightning in the postseason as they pursued a dynasty. “You want to beat the best,” Sakic said.