Tampa Bay 2012 MRFHL Stanley Cup Champions

 Tampa Bay,FL,(AP)- Tonight was game #5 at the Staples Center and a must win for the Los.Angeles Kings to stay alive in the Stanley Cup finals, and a chance for the Tampa Bay Lightning to win there first Chapionship. The Staples Center was jammed packed with a Full house of King and Lightning fans who had made the journy east to hopefully witness there club raise the championship. The Lightning came out in the first period and quieted the fans in the staples center netting two goals and holding a 2-0 lead at the end of the 1st period on goals by Jason.Chimera and Mike.Knuble. The second period seen the Lightning try and extend there lead outshooting the Kings 13-7. The Kings however narrowed the lead and closed with in one goal when Tuomo. Rutuu netted his 10th of the playoffs. Kari.Lehtonen was stellar turning away all 13 shots. The Lightning held on to a 2-1 lead going to the 3rd period. When the puck dropped to start the 3rd period the staple center was loud and the Kings came out with Sticks a blazing and threw everything they could at Bolts netminder Pekka Rinne who was at the top of his game, but it wasn't long before the King notted things up at two's on a goal by Derrick.Brassard. The Kings contiue'd to try and get another score but Rinne and the Lightning continued to keep the puck out. The 3rd period ended with the score tied and overtime looming. When the puck dropped to start overtime you could see both teams wanted this over as the action was back and fourth with each team getting a couple of opportunity's to score the winner. Brassard wired a wrist shot the Rinne saved and the puck went off Rinne's pad right on the stick of David Jones who wasted no time getting rid of the puck off his stick, as he wired a wristshot that went over a sprauled Rinne and nailed the post and bounced right ot to Blake Comeau who got rid of the puck quick only to have Rinne make a spectacular save and the puck careemed of of him onto Josh Gorges stick and he threw it into the Corner where James Wisnieski skated the puck out of the Bolts zone and passed the puck to a streaking David.Legwand skating up the right side. Legwand crossed into the Kings Zone a unleashed a wristshot from the back of circle which got by a disappointed Lehtonen. To the dismay of Kings fans and Kings playes the Bolts emptied the bench to celebrate it was over , The Lightning have won the Cup!      Lightning defeat the Kings 4 -1 in the series!!!!

  The teams lined up to shake hands, Tampa Players and staff then lined up for the presentation of the trophies, first the Calder trophy for MVP of the playoffs, Commisioner Wilson was at Center ice to make the presentation and announced 2012 MVP of the 2012 playoffs number 35 goalie Pekka.Rinne. There could've been a couple of others who we're more them worthy of the award and Rinne was in that group. Rinne was absolutly phenominal throughtout the playoffs playing in all 23 games he had 16 wins, 4 losses, and another 3 losses in overtime. He posted a 2.19 GAA along with 2 SO and .927 Sv Pct. Commissioner Wilson then called up Captain David.Legwand who also netted the overtime winner to come and get the cup. The Club skated around the Staples Center each taking laps with the Cup.

 Gm Zelichowski was exstatic and with tears when we spoke to him, I can't believe it he said, Coach Boucher , his Staff and this group of players gave it all they had all year, there was no quit in them. We made a couple of trade this season and they made a difference. Adding, Chimera and Burish when we lost Tambellini to a injury early on was good additions, then adding at the trade dealine we added Wojtek Wolski when we had lost captain David.Legwand for the remainder of the season and the erly rounds of the playoffs to injury was huge. Everyone who stepped in that dressing room knew they we're part of a spceial team. no matter what was asked of them. Every night it was someone else different stepping it up and leading the way. This is second time Gm Zelichowski has taken this club to the championship and this his first Championship.

Your 2012 MRFHL STANLEY CUP CHAMPION  Tampa Bay Lightning

David.Legwand(Captain) Marc.Andre.Bergeron, Mike.Knuble(Assistant Captain)

David. Bolland, Wotjek.Wolski, Radim.VrBata

Colin.Wilson, Jason.Chimera, Adam.Burish

Andre.Lokitonov, Daniel.Carcillo, Jeff.Tambellini

Niklas.Kronwall(Assistant Captain), Micheal. Del Zotto

James.Wisniewski, Josh.Gorges 

Anton.Babchuk, Mike.Lundin

Alec.Martinez

Pekka.Rinne, Craig Anderson   

Reporting from California