Mandatory Credit: Photo by Phelan M Ebenhack/AP/Shutterstock (12200320d)
Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos hoists the Stanley Cup after the series win in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals series against the Montreal Canadiens, in Tampa, Fla
Stanley Cup Hockey, Tampa, United States - 07 Jul 2021
So, Stamkos has been with Tampa his whole career and was hurt for most of last year's Cup run, though he did score in his first game back. It must have been endlessly satisfying to do it again and have been out there for the whole thing. He has decent year-over-year beard consistency, but it might have been fuller last year? Maybe he got started earlier.
Nikita Kucherov
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Phelan Ebenhack/AP/Shutterstock (12200316ax)
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov hoists the Stanley Cup after the team defeated the Montreal Canadiens in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals, in Tampa, Fla
Stanley Cup Hockey, Tampa, United States - 07 Jul 2021
His beard has also returned in full bloom. Well done. It looked SILKIER last year? Look at me coming in with the important discussions.
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Phelan Ebenhack/AP/Shutterstock (12200316aw)
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy hoists the Stanley Cup after the team defeated the Montreal Canadiens in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals, in Tampa, Fla
Stanley Cup Hockey, Tampa, United States - 07 Jul 2021
ESCANDELO! I didn't GET a photo of Andrei last year. He won the Conn-Smythe this year, so let us together conclude that it was because last year he couldn't muster much follicularly and this year he tended and groomed it until... you know, it more or less covered things, thinly.
Kucherov and Vasilevskiy
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Phelan Ebenhack/AP/Shutterstock (12200316ak)
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) take selfies after the Lighting defeated the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals, in Tampa, Fla
Stanley Cup Hockey, Tampa, United States - 07 Jul 2021
"Hey mom! We won a Stanley Cup again, with fans this time! Look at them right there!" Nikita Kucherov ALSO looks as robust as last year, maybe even a touch more so.(86) and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) take selfies after the Lighting defeated the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals, in Tampa, Fla Stanley Cup Hockey, Tampa, United States - 07 Jul 2021
Brayden Poit
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Phelan Ebenhack/AP/Shutterstock (12200316ba)
Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point hoists the Stanley Cup after the team defeated the Montreal Canadiens in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals, in Tampa, Fla
Stanley Cup Hockey, Tampa, United States - 07 Jul 2021
We've been playing a lot of NHL 21 on the Xbox and Liam likes to play as the Lightning -- he says it's because of the Lightning Bug and the fake lightning strikes when they score, but I suspect it's also because they're the best team in that game -- but all their headshots are sans beards so I know the names but don't recognize their faces. I'm going to say Brayden here did just a little bit more on his face than he did last year.
Pat Maroon
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Gerry Broome/AP/Shutterstock (12200316as)
Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Pat Maroon kisses the Stanley Cup after Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals against the Montreal Canadiens, in Tampa, Fla
Stanley Cup Hockey, Tampa, United States - 07 Jul 2021
Hard to tell because of how he's making out with the Cup, but there's almost no way this tops last year's beard, which was shaped like a stubby banana.
David Savard
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Gerry Broome/AP/Shutterstock (12200316an)
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman David Savard hoists the Stanley Cup after the series win in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals against the Montreal Canadiens, in Tampa, Fla
Stanley Cup Hockey, Tampa, United States - 07 Jul 2021
WINNER WINNER. That thing is CURLY.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Phelan Ebenhack/AP/Shutterstock (12200316ae)
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27) and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) celebrate the team's Stanley Cup finals series in Game 5 of the NHL hockey finals, in Tampa, Fla
Stanley Cup Hockey, Tampa, United States - 07 Jul 2021
JUBILATION!
Ross Colton and Mathieu Joseph
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Phelan Ebenhack/AP/Shutterstock (12200316ad)
Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ross Colton (79) celebrates with right wing Mathieu Joseph (7) after the Lighting defeated the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals, in Tampa, Fla
Stanley Cup Hockey, Tampa, United States - 07 Jul 2021
"I barely even grew a beard! I can't even SEE yours!"
Coach Jon Cooper (with Gary Bettman)
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Phelan Ebenhack/AP/Shutterstock (12200316bb)
Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper, left, and National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman are all smiles after Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals against the Montreal Canadiens, in Tampa, Fla
Stanley Cup Hockey, Tampa, United States - 07 Jul 2021
"I DID THIS AND DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO STOP SHAVING!!!"
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Phelan Ebenhack/AP/Shutterstock (12200316ag)
Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper is hugged by a player after the Lighting defeated the Montreal Canadiens in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals, in Tampa, Fla
Stanley Cup Hockey, Tampa, United States - 07 Jul 2021
"OH GOD I'M SO PROUD OF MY CUP AND MY BABY SOFT CHEEKS, I'M GONNA CRY."
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Bruce Bennett/AP/Shutterstock (12200445b)
The Tampa Bay Lightning pose with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in Game 5 to win the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals, in Tampa, Fla
Stanley Cup Finals Hockey, Tampa, United States - 07 Jul 2021
Congratulations, lads! Here's hoping we have more beards and more photos the next time you win it. Which might be next year, frankly.
