The Dallas Stars saw their incredible underdog 2020 Stanley Cup run come to end on Monday evening in Game 6 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Stars turned in an uninspired effort and were eliminated with a 2-0 shutout loss, giving Tampa Bay its second Stanley Cup in franchise history.
One of the most heartbreaking moments of the entire postseason came in the form of a post-game press conference from the captain of the losing squad. Dallas Stars’ captain Jamie Benn could barely make it through his post-game interview as he was overcome with emotion on the podium.
Benn only took three questions following the loss, and he couldn’t even answer the second one asking about what the team meant to him.
Here’s video of Benn’s interview:
Oh man, this Jamie Benn interview. pic.twitter.com/b7HosvIKkm
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) September 29, 2020
Here’s a transcript of the interview:
Q: What’s this feeling like for you guys right now?
A: It sucks. You go through a lot you know with our group.
Q: I know it’s probably tough right now, but what will you remember about this group of guys?
A: (Silence)
Q: Are you able to think about the run you guys just had or is that too much for you at this moment?
A: (pause) Uh, it was a good run. It’s tough. You’re two games away from a Stanley Cup so…
There was speculation that playing in this NHL bubble and unique Return-To-Play format would make the players less invested. If Benn’s interview confirmed one thing, it was that winning this Stanley Cup while being trapped in one location and away from family for 60-plus days meant more than anything.