TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — When a boat parade is the standard for an organization, anything less than hoisting the Stanley Cup is a disappointment.

The Tampa Bay Lightning haven’t come close to those lofty expectations since falling two wins shy of a threepeat in 2022. They’ve been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs three consecutive years, the last two by the eventual champion Florida Panthers.

“You kinda use that as motivation throughout the whole summer,” veteran defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. “You’re angry that your season was cut short. We didn’t accomplish our goal so you use that as motivation all summer to be as prepared as you can be and ready for a good start to the season and carry that through. They knocked us out and went on and finished the job and that’s what we’re tryi

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