After repeatedly deflecting questions about his future all post-season, the interim head coach of the Dallas Stars gave some indication of his thoughts after his team's season-ending 2-0 loss to Tampa Bay.

The Stars, who forced a sixth game after winning in double overtime Saturday night, were unable to hold on Monday, losing the series 4-2.

Kevin Shattenkirk scored on the power play 6:34 into overtime to lift Tampa Bay to a 5-4 win over the Dallas Stars on Friday and put the Lightning one win away from the Stanley Cup.

Victor Hedman had a three-point night in the Lightning’s Game 3 win over the Stars, but he wasn’t the headline -- that honour was given to the captain.

Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos returned -- very briefly -- from a seven-month injury layoff, and scored on his first shot on net as the Lightning beat the Dallas Stars 5-2 Wednesday in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have turned their Stanley Cup final with the Dallas Stars into a best of five because, to quote Tampa head coach Jon Cooper and paraphrase "The Untouchables,'' you can't bring a knife to a gunfight.

It's not only two American Sunbelt teams facing off Saturday in the NHL's Stanley Cup final, it's also a matchup of two head coaches who once worked together, but with the student now trying to outshine the mentor.

Tampa Bay forward Anthony Cirelli scored in overtime of Game 6 against the New York Islanders on Thursday night to help the Lightning win 2-1 and earn a spot in the Stanley Cup Final.

After more than eight weeks in Edmonton, while staying in a hotel connected to the arena where they play, the Dallas Stars are now waiting to find out who they will play in the Stanley Cup Final.

Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill says interim head coach Rick Bowness has "earned the right'' to come back behind the bench, but says the decision will come after the Stanley Cup final.