from Scott Burnside of ESPN.

As if we needed any more evidence that the Tampa Bay Lightning are back, Exhibit A was revealed Thursday when they exacted a small measure of revenge for their Stanley Cup finals loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, ending the Blackhawks' franchise-best 12-game winning streak with a 2-1 home win.

This was the Lightning team that won Game 7s against the Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers last spring before falling in six games in the finals, using timely scoring and strong team defense and goaltending to defeat the NHL's hottest team.

Chicago, which will play in Florida against the Panthers on Friday, got a goal from Artem Anisimov in the first minute of play but was shut out the rest of the way and managed just 18 shots on goal in total. The win was the Bolts' seventh in a row and moved them into second place in the Atlantic Division, with a big showdown looming Saturday with the first-place Panthers.

So, if last year's final series began today would you give the Lightning a better chance of besting the Blackhawks?

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