TAMPA | Defeating the Lightning is no small task. In fact, it was mission impossible since the first round of the 2019 playoffs.
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Photo AFP
In ecstasy, Avalanche players proudly posed with the coveted Stanley Cup yesterday in Tampa Bay.
Since then, every time he had his back once morest the wall, the Lightning had resisted. Led by Andrei Vasilevskiy, his 1.33 GAA and .956 save percentage, the Floridians were perfect on four occasions.
Like all good things come to an end, this brilliant streak came to an end last night at the Amalie Arena. Nathan MacKinnon, who had been limited to just one goal (and three assists) in the first five games, led the charge in the 2-1 win.
A win that allowed the Avalanche to lift the Stanley Cup for the third time in its history, a first since 2001.
The reign of the Lightning, champions in 2020 and 2021, therefore ended following 20 months and 29 days.
The best since the Oilers
The Halifax forward first leveled the game by registering his 13th in the present series. Subsequently, he was complicit in the goal of Arturri Lehkonen, the man of great opportunities, as evidenced by his four winning goals. This eighth goal of the series of the Finn allowed the Avalanche to take the lead in a game for the first time in 211 min 27 s.
Since Colorado had won Game 4 in overtime following trailing the entire game, we had to go back to the first period of the third game to see the Avalanche ahead.
The Lightning made valiant efforts to bring regarding a seventh and final game, the visitors resisted. It must be said that several Lightning players seemed at their wit’s end, their journey having been much more winding than that of their rivals.
The Avalanche were crowned champions following playing 20 games (16-4).
Since 1987, when the four-rounder was a best of seven for the first time, only one team has suffered less than four losses in its run: the 1988 Edmonton Oilers (16-2).
“What I’m feeling right now is unreal,” Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog said. I think of my family and especially our child who will always see his father as a Stanley Cup champion,” he added with tears in his eyes.
Makar, the most useful
Unsurprisingly, Cale Makar, who some are already comparing to Bobby Orr, won the Conn-Smythe Trophy. The 23-year-old defenseman didn’t steal his title as playoff MVP.
Despite a slightly more irregular outfit in the last two games, the Albertan led the Avalanche play masterfully throughout the tournament.
He had at least one point in 18 of his team’s 20 playoff games.
During this run, he had five multi-point games, including three in the final. Al MacInnis (10 in 1989), Brian Leetch (9 in 1994) and Paul Coffey (9 in 1995) are the only ones to have known more.
Moreover, the 29 points (8 goals, 21 assists) he has accumulated during these series ranks him fourth in the history of defensemen behind, once once more, Coffey (37 points), Leetch (34 points) and MacInnis (31 points). Of this quartet, only Coffey was not awarded the Conn Smythe.
First period
1-TB: Steven Stamkos (11) (Palat) 3:48
Penalties: Makar (Col) 0:23
Second period
2-COL: Nathan MacKinnon (13) (Byram, Landeskog) 1:54
3-COL: Artturi Lehkonen (8) (MacKinnon, Manson) 12:28
Penalties: McDonagh (TB) 14:53
Third period
No goal
Penalties: none
Shoot to the net
COLORADO 8 – 13 – 9 – 30
TAMPA BAY10 – 9 – 4 – 23
Guardians:
COL: Darcy Kuemper (G, 10-4), TB: Andrei Vasilevskiy (P, 14-9)
Numerical advantages:
COL: 0 in 1, TB: 0 in 1
Referees:
Kelly Sutherland, Gord Dwyer
Linesmen:
Steve Barton, Ryan Daisy
ASSISTANCE:
19 092
