Tampa Bay has officially become Champa Bay, because all this city does is win. On Wednesday night the Tampa Bay Lightning captured their second Stanley Cup in ten months, and the Super Bowl Champion Bucs took notice.
The Bolts collected a 1-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens off the strength of Ross Colton’s second period goal. The 4-1 series win sealed just the second back-t0-back champion in the NHL’s salary cap era. As the Buccaneers attempt to go back-to-back themselves this season, they acknowledges the Lightning’s accomplishment on social media.
Stanley cup champions!!!! Congrats @TBLightning one hell of a series #gobolts #champabay #StanleyCup
— Bruce Arians (@BruceArians) July 8, 2021
Champa bay baby !!! @TBLightning LETS GO!!
— Scotty Miller (@MillerTime___10) July 8, 2021
The Stanley Cup stays in the Bay‼️‼️ LETS GOO‼️ @TBLightning pic.twitter.com/YdjhpJkdd1
— Tristan Wirfs (@TristanWirfs74) July 8, 2021
Champa Bay!!! Let's go @TBLightning
— Ryan Jensen (@sinjen66) July 8, 2021
Even rookie Joe Tryon, fresh off signing his first NFL contract and new to the Tampa Bay area, got into the fun.
Back2Back ⚡️⚡️ https://t.co/x68xzPwdp9
— joejoe (@joe_tryon) July 8, 2021
Bucs players didn’t need the Bolts’ success to focus on the goal of back-to-back titles, but the Lightning’s epic run has undoubtedly served as inspiration for the team. CB Sean Murphy-Bunting, catalyst of the Bucs playoff jaunt this past season, sounded off on the Lightning’s victory.
Back to back like Drake said
— Sean Murphy-Bunting (@seanbunting_) July 8, 2021
Bucs DT Vita Vea was in attendance at Amalie Arena, and even shotgunned a beer for the crowd during a timeout. Tight ends O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate were also spotted at the game.
Bucs DT Vita Vea shotguns a beer during the timeout #GoBolts #TBLightning #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/fbdeaMj8K6
— Lightning Insider (@Erik_Erlendsson) July 8, 2021
The Lightning will undoubtedly have their own boat parade celebration in the coming days. It’ll be the third boat parade to take place in Tampa Bay in the past ten months, and the city might not be done. The Rays are contending with the Boston Red Sox for the division title halfway through the MLB season. And the Bucs are the odds-on favorite to win their second straight Super Bowl in February.
Soak it in, Bucs and Bolts fans. It’s a good time to be a sports fan in Tampa Bay.