from Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune,

While many continue to doubt the Lightning, they have maintained that quiet inner confidence throughout the postseason. Though it might have wavered at times, that brashness served them well on the biggest stage many of them had never been on to this point in their careers.

“There is some swagger here,” veteran forward Brenden Morrow said. “Whether it’s from the experience of winning before (in the minor leagues) or whatever it was, there is swagger here, and it’s not arrogance. We all believe in each other, and they believe in themselves.”

So while many counted the Lightning out, they refused to listen to the outside noise. And with the spotlight shining brightly, Tampa Bay stayed the course and pushed forward by winning three of the four games at Madison Square Garden, shutting the Rangers out in Games 5 and 7, arguably the two biggest games of the series.

“You shine the light bright on our guys, and they’ll just put on sunglasses and walk right through it,” Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. “It’s unreal how they respond. I’m out of words. I’m just so happy for them. I’m really, genuinely happy for our players, and I know how much they’ve worked, how much they’re probably sick of listening to me. But this is a team that didn’t play with each other, they played for each other, and that’s why we’re here.”

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