In a devastating defeat at Amalie Arena, the Tampa Bay Lightning lost to the Colorado Avalanche in game six of the Stanley Cup Final.

After defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers, the Lightning were on their way to this year’s final. They won 11 consecutive series with the hope of taking home the Stanley Cup for the third year in a row. The Lightning’s goal was to become the first team to win three consecutive Stanley Cup championships since the New York Islanders won four in a row from 1980-83. The Avalanche had other plans.

Once reaching the Stanley Cup Final, the Lightning had the task of defeating the Avalanche— who beat the Nashville Predators, the St. Louis Blues and the Edmonton Oilers— four times.

However, after losing the first two games of the series, that dream was drifting farther away. But, the Lightning were able to get it together to defeat the Avalanche 6-2 in game three. Then, the Avalanche won game four, leaving them one game away from taking the Stanley Cup title. Yet, the Lightning were able to hold on for another game, beating the Avalanche once again in game five. But, in the end, it wasn’t enough. The Avalanche finally defeated the Lightning once and for all, 2-1, in the sixth and final game of the Stanley Cup.

This was a devastating loss for the players and fans, especially due to the controversy surrounding the final game. According to both video footage and the official box score, when the Avalanche’s winning goal was scored, there were seven Avalanche players on the ice, one more than allowed. However, the NHL has since removed the Avalanche player, Erik Johnson’s, number from the list of players on the ice in its online box score and announced in the media workroom that Johnson was not on the ice.

As a result of this controversy, the loss was seen as a particularly low blow to fans.

“You know, I’ve been part of some heartbreaking losses and defeats to the teams that took us out and been with a group that just fights, fights and fights. And they fought their way to a third Stanley Cup Final in a row. And in a cap era when … when it’s so damn hard and the rules are put against you because the league wants parity,” Lightning coach, Jon Cooper reported.

Although the Lightning didn’t end up with the three-peat that they were hoping for, it is undeniable that they, along with the Avalanche, gave audiences a great series to remember.