Second Time’s the Charm: Tampa Bay Lightning Stars Are Finally Getting Hobby Respect

In the eyes of some embittered hockey fans, there will always be asterisks appended to the recent pair of Stanley Cups won by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The first, which capped the 2019-20 season, was earned in the Bubble, the curious environment created as a response to the unique challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. And then there was this year’s title, won at the end of an abbreviated campaign with a roster that would have been well over the salary cap … if only the cap applied during the playoffs. But here’s a reality check. The Lightning played by…