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Lightning head coach Jon Cooper a finalist for Jack Adams Award

A second-time finalist, he hopes to join John Tortorella as the only Tampa Bay coaches to receive the honor.
 
Lightning head coach Jon Cooper addresses the media during the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. [DIRK SHADD | Times]
Lightning head coach Jon Cooper addresses the media during the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. [DIRK SHADD | Times]
Published April 26, 2019

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper is among three finalists for the Jack Adams Award, which goes to the head coach who has “contributed the most to his team’s success,” the NHL announced today.

Craig Berube of the St. Louis Blues and Barry Trotz of the New York Islanders are the other finalists in voting by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association.

The winner will be announced during the NHL Awards show June 19 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Cooper led the Lightning to 62 victories during the regular season, tying the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings for most in NHL history. Tampa Bay’s 128 points were fourth-most in league history.

The Lightning also became the first team in NHL history with at least 30 home wins (32) and 30 road wins (30) in the same season.

Its 325 goals were the most by any team in 23 years, and its plus-103 goal differential was the highest since 2005-06.

Cooper is a second-time finalist for the award. He placed third in 2013-14.

John Tortorella, in 2003-04, is the only coach in Lightning history to win the award.

Berube took over a Blues squad that was 30th in the league in points in November and led it to a third-place finish in the Central Division by going 38-19-6 the rest of the way.

Trotz, who joined the Islanders after leading the Washington Capitals to the Stanley Cup last season, spurred New York to a 23-point improvement over 2017-18. The Islanders allowed a league-low 196 goals.