Following years of playoff disappointment, Colorado had reclaimed the Stanley Cup — and denied a powerhouse’s hopes of turning into a dynasty.
The Avalanche scored a 2-1 win over the mighty Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals Sunday night time at Amalie Arena behind objectives from MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen, giving Colorado its first championship since 2001 and the third in franchise historical past.
“We didn’t want to sit back. We wanted to be aggressive. It wasn’t perfect, but when we needed a save, Darcy Kuemper stepped up and made it,” stated captain Gabriel Landeskog, the primary participant to hoist the Stanley Cup.
Tampa Bay led lower than 4 minutes into the primary interval, however Colorado rallied to dethrone the two-time defending champion. Lehkonen received the winner at 12:28 of the second.
The Lightning was seeking to turn into the primary crew to win the Stanley Cup three straight seasons because the New York Islanders received 4 in a row from 1980 to 1983. But the dynamic Avalanche stole the highlight over six video games of an electrical matchup highlighted by velocity and ability.
Cale Makar, 23, received the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after he notched eight objectives and 21 assists within the postseason, anchoring Colorado’s blue line with unmatched offensive ability. Makar, who received the Norris Trophy because the NHL’s finest defenseman final week, had 28 objectives and 58 assists in a breakout common season.
“I’m just so happy for all these guys, man,” Makar stated. “… Everybody that’s been here for so long and worked so hard, to finally have that pay off with all the success we’ve had the past few years, it’s so amazing for them. I’m so proud of the boys, and I don’t know what else to say — it’s amazing.”
MacKinnon, among the best gamers on the planet, additionally was a driving power within the chase for the Stanley Cup. The 26-year-old had one other great common season, recording 32 objectives and 56 assists over 65 video games along with his 13 objectives within the postseason.
“It feels like disbelief. It’s crazy. Can’t wait to hug my family,” MacKinnon stated. “Geez, it’s hard to describe. I didn’t really know what it’d be like to actually win it. Seeing all these warriors battle, it feels unbelievable.”
The Avalanche was unable to shut out the collection on its first attempt in a 3-2 Game 5 loss Friday in Denver, with the Lightning’s Ondrej Palat getting the game-winner late within the third interval.
Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy was wonderful in Game 5 and continued his stout efficiency in Game 6, however Colorado was an excessive amount of for him — and the Lightning’s protection — to deal with. He had 28 saves. Kuemper maintained his composure within the tight recreation, making a handful of well timed saves to complete with 22 for Colorado.
The first interval was all Tampa Bay. Captain Steven Stamkos opened the scoring by beating Kuemper in entrance at 3:48 off a turnover by Makar.
MacKinnon tied the rating early within the second with a one-timer from the left circle on a delayed penalty. It was MacKinnon’s second aim of the collection — his first was off his skate in Game 4.
Lehkonen, who had hit the submit earlier, gave the Avalanche a 2-1 lead with 7:32 left within the second off an odd-man rush with MacKinnon. It was the eighth aim of the postseason for Lehkonen, a pivotal commerce deadline acquisition by General Manager Joe Sakic.
The Lightning tried to push for the tying aim within the third interval however discovered few alternatives. Colorado performed the sort of interval anticipated of a crew keen to finish a collection. Tampa Bay had only a few scoring possibilities, and Kuemper was there every time.
“This is a tough series,” ahead Andrew Cogliano stated. “… To beat them is probably a little more satisfying to be honest because they are champions. They know how to win. And, ultimately, when you can beat the champions, you know you really earned it.”
Colorado was one of many favorites to win the Stanley Cup in the beginning of the season however hadn’t superior previous the second spherical of the playoffs since 2002. In 2016-17, Colorado completed a distant final within the NHL, managing simply 48 factors. More just lately, it had misplaced within the second spherical in three consecutive postseasons, elevating questions on whether or not it might ever get over the hump.
Colorado’s response was going 16-4 this postseason, notching two collection sweeps.
“The best advice I ever got as a coach early on in my career was ‘Don’t be in a rush to climb the ladder,’ ” stated Coach Jared Bednar, whose first season was the 48-point bottoming-out. “… When you find a fit, there is nothing like that in life. It makes your job easier and makes your job that much more rewarding to be around people that care.”
The Avalanche was dominant within the first spherical, beating the Nashville Predators with ease. Colorado’s hardest check was its second-round matchup with the St. Louis Blues. If not for Darren Helm’s game-winner with 5.6 seconds left in Game 6, the Avalanche may have confronted a do-or-die Game 7. Colorado then swept the Edmonton Oilers within the Western Conference finals.
In the finals, the Avalanche appeared like the higher crew throughout a 4-3 additional time Game 1 win and a 7-0 Game 2 rout. When the collection flipped to Tampa for Games 3 and 4, the Lightning received redemption, throttling the Avalanche, 6-2, in a Game 3 beatdown. The collection tilted again in Colorado’s favor in Game 4, with the Avalanche delivering a gut-punch 3-2 additional time win earlier than the Lightning regained its footing to win an exciting Game 5 in Denver.
Although the Lightning fell in need of a three-peat, its accomplishments stay spectacular. It reached the finals in three straight seasons, which hadn’t been completed since Edmonton did it from 1983 to 1985. Even although Tampa Bay needed to exchange main parts of its roster after profitable its second straight title, it was nonetheless a composed, skilled group from prime to backside.
“Nothing we say now or do is going to make this feeling go away for a while,” Stamkos stated. “But I’m proud of the guys.”
The Lightning had extra expertise than the youthful Avalanche, which was out to show itself on hockey’s greatest stage. Tampa Bay constructed a powerhouse, however it was Colorado’s flip for glory Sunday night time.
“We always stuck to the plan, and this is the result,” ahead Nazem Kadri stated. “It’s an incredible feeling. It’s what I worked my whole life for, pretty much. To be in this position and to be remembered as a great team means the world.”
