Only Lightning veteran without a Stanley Cup ring
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — David Savard’s playoff beard has never been this long.
Savard never advanced past the second round in his first nine NHL seasons and going into Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final Wednesday, he was the only veteran player on the Tampa Bay Lightning without a Stanley Cup ring.
After joining Tampa
Bay at the deadline, the grizzled defenceman has been a key part of a second consecutive run to the final.
“It’s been an unbelievable ride,” Savard said. “The last few years, they had an awesome, awesome run. It was just something really special for me to come in. I knew they had a chance to go at it again. To fit in and be able to help them go all the way, it would be nice.”
Savard has been a nice addition for the Lightning and perhaps the final piece the blue line needed to be complete.
Along with rookie Ross Colton, Savard has also brought a fresh hunger for a first title that defending champions benefit from as a bit of a spark.
Lightning players and coach Jon Cooper hope they can get Savard’s name on the cup.
“He’s a popular guy in the room and so players are naturally pulling for guys like that to enjoy the success that we had last year,” Cooper said Wednesday. “They’re hoping he gets one. They’re cheering for him. There’s no doubt about that. When you’re with a group where pretty much everybody on the team has a ring from last year, I think you kind of feel a little bit left out. I know guys are pulling for him.”
After Savard and the Blue Jackets upset the Lightning in the first round in 2019, Tampa Bay went through Columbus on the way to the bubble hockey championship. The 30-year-old has since learned a lot about what makes this team click.
“It’s just the calm inside the room,” Savard said. “I think no matter what happens, we stay focused. You learn from guys who have been through that road.”
Savard’s road included playing 37 playoff games during almost a decade with Columbus.
Game 5 Wednesday night was his 20th for the Lightning, so although he may feel a little left out from not winning last year, Savard appreciates what made that run happen and his role as the new guy.
“That group every time, they come back and they’re resilient,” Savard said. “Winning last year was great for them. You just want to be part of all that. I think it makes it special.”
Savard is trying to complete his own special cup run with a heavy heart after 24-year-old former Columbus teammate Matiss Kivlenieks died Sunday in a fireworks accident.
He found out from former Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno in a text message the morning of Game 4 Monday.
“That was a brutal wakeup,” Savard said in French. “That was a good kid with a lot of talent who was going to be a part of the team next year or in the future.
“That’s extremely sad.”