With their defeat to the Colorado Avalanche and Cale Makar in the Stanley Cup Final, it’s understandable if the Tampa Bay Lightning are feeling a bit of a painful sting. To come this far, to get this close, and to put in all that effort throughout a two-month postseason only to fall short of a three-peat is never easy to process on an emotional level.
It might be even harder to process for Corey Perry. The veteran winger joined the Lightning after losing to Tampa Bay in the previous two Stanley Cup Finals while with the Montreal Canadiens and Dallas Stars, respectively. He’s the first player in NHL history to lose in the Stanley Cup Final in three straight years with three different teams.
Under normal circumstances, people might feel more sympathy for Perry. But, thanks to a history of underhanded, dirty play throughout his 17-year career, the 37-year-old hasn’t made many friends. Perry might have his one Cup victory with the Ducks in 2007, but many NHL fans definitely don’t want to see him win one ever again.
Hockey Twitter celebrated Perry’s latest postseason demise accordingly.