"When I first came to the organization, I remember we were playing the Detroit] Red Wings and basically everyone behind me ... was all in red jerseys," the Lightning coach said. "[Red Wings fans]*
In just the last few years alone, Tampa Bay has had the NHL most valuable player (Hart Trophy: Kucherov, 2019), top defenseman (Norris Trophy: Hedman, 2018), and top goalie (Vezina Trophy: Vasilevskiy, 2019).
Stamkos, the team's captain, has appeared in seven NHL All-Star Games since 2011, and the Lightning have had at least two representatives in the All-Star game each year since 2016.
"The biggest thing I always said is, how are you going to change traveling on the road because there would barely be any Lightning jerseys on the road," Cooper said. "And then you win (the Stanley Cup twice) and you see ... going through all the arenas now ... it's loaded with Lightning fans. And that's the coolest thing. Just to watch how our organization has arrived."
Forward Alex Killorn said he noticed it when the Lightning arrived at their team hotel Thursday night in Nashville.
"I took a walk right when we got to the hotel and I didn't see anyone that wasn't in a Lightning sweater," Killorn said. "I talked to some people that were out and about and they told me there were even some Lightning chants in the bars."
There could be many more Lightning chants Saturday as thousands of fans have made the trip to attend the game and live up to the hashtag #BoltsTakeBroadway.
"Are we an Original Six team? No, we're not," Cooper said. "But we sure have some marquee players and we've won some Cups and people want to be around the team. They represent and they wear our colors and it's super cool. Just going down Broadway today, I thought I was in Tampa."
