from Chris Johnston of Sportsnet,

So as the Tampa Bay Lightning and Chicago Blackhawks went through their final preparations for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final a sentimental feeling washed over Amalie Arena.

You had 36-year-old Lightning forward Brenden Morrow, back in the final for the first time since his rookie year, talking about how rare the opportunity is. There were 56 text messages on his phone when he returned to the dressing room after Tampa’s Game 7 win in the Eastern Conference final and he’s just gotten through answering them.

“I got messages from friends and past teammates,” Morrow said Wednesday morning. “(I’ve just been) thinking about teams you’ve had in the past that you thought had a chance and didn’t (get it done). Those players that you played with that didn’t get the opportunity, and good friends of yours that never had a chance to play for a Cup, I was kind of thinking about them a little bit.”

Then there was veteran Blackhawks centre Brad Richards, back in Tampa where he won his only Stanley Cup in 2004. He was filled with pride while driving through the streets and seeing the "Go Bolts!" banners hanging off city buildings.

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