Stanley Cup Final storylines include Canada’s 28-year drought

7. Maroon hunting for Stanley Cup hat trickPat Maroon can become the first player to win the Stanley Cup in three consecutive seasons since 16 Islanders won it four straight times from 1980-83, including Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, Clark Gillies, Billy Smith and Denis Potvin.Maroon won the Stanley Cup with his hometown St. Louis Blues in 2019. He went to Tampa Bay on a two-year, $1.8 million contract last season and won it with the Lightning.He has scored three points (one goal, two assists) in 18 games playing regularly on the fourth line with Ross Colton and Tyler Johnson.8. Danault’s monumental taskPhillip Danault, with the help of linemates Brendan Gallagher and Artturi Lehkonen, along with defensemen Shea Weber and Ben Chiarot, has handled three challenging assignments in the playoffs, but his hardest might be ahead of him.Danault, the Canadiens’ best shutdown center, has helped to limit Toronto Maple Leafs forwards Auston Matthews and Mitchell Marner, Winnipeg Jets forwards Kyle Connor and Blake Wheeler, and Vegas Golden Knights forwards Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty.This series he’ll likely be matched up regularly against the Lightning’s top line of Point, Kucherov and Ondrej Palat at even strength and their top power play unit, which has Kucherov and Point with Steven Stamkos, Alex Killorn and Victor Hedman.Danault leads Canadiens forwards total ice time per game (19:03) and shorthanded ice time per game (2:36). He has three assists in 17 playoff games, but his role is to help keep the puck out more than it is to try to put it in.9. Tampa Bay’s power play vs. Montreal’s penalty killThe special teams battle in the Cup Final is going to be fascinating to watch as the tic-tac-toe Lightning power play goes head to head against the aggressive shutdown Canadiens penalty kill.Tampa Bay is 37.7 percent on the power play, with all 20 goals coming from the first unit, seven by Point.Montreal leads the postseason at 93.5 percent on the penalty kill, including 30-for-30 with three shorthanded goals since Game 5 against the Maple Leafs in the first round May 27.The Canadiens are 11-2 since they last allowed a power-play goal.10. Cooper trying to join exclusive fraternityLightning coach Jon Cooper is trying to become the 19th coach to win the Stanley Cup twice, and to become the 12th coach to win it in at least two consecutive seasons, joining Scotty Bowman, Toe Blake, Hap Day, Punch Imlach, Al Arbour, Glen Sather, Jack Adams, Fred Shero, Cecil Hart, Tommy Gorman and Mike Sullivan.Cooper has the Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final for the third time since 2015, when they lost in six games to the Chicago Blackhawks.He is tied for seventh among active coaches with 66 postseason wins. He also has the best winning percentage (.595) of all active coaches who have been to the playoffs at least twice.