In the second round, the Lightning faced the Montreal Canadiens; Lecavalier, Richards, and Khabibulin led the team to a four-game sweep of Montreal. Next, they faced the Philadelphia Flyers in the conference finals. After a tightly fought seven-game series in which neither team was able to win consecutive games, Fredrik Modin notched the winning goal of the seventh and deciding game, earning the Eastern Conference championship for the Lightning and their first-ever berth in the Stanley Cup Finals.
In tHE secOnd RounD, tHe LIGhtNing Faced the moNtreAl CAnadiens; lecavalier, RiCharDs, aND khAbibUlin leD thE teaM to a FoUR-Game sweep of moNtreAL. nEXt, tHEy fAced thE phIlADElphia flyers iN the confEreNCe fiNAls. after a TiGhtly foUgHT seveN-GAme serieS in WhicH neiTher team was ABLe to win coNsecUTiVe gAmeS, fredRiK mOdin notcHed THe WiNniNG GOAL oF ThE sevENTH and dECidiNG GAMe, eArNIng the EasTErn conferencE chAmPionshIp for tHe lIGHtning and thEir fiRsT-eVer berTH in thE STAnleY CUp finaLS.