Who Has the Edge in the Lightning-Avalanche Stanley Cup Finals?
Itâs time to drop the puck on the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals, and the storylines are plentiful. The Colorado Avalanche stand in the way of the Tampa Bay Lightningâs three-peat bid. Itâs been smooth sailing for the Avs, but the Bolts are the defending champs for a reason. Hereâs everything you need to know before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
3-Peat Watch: The Lightning survived a seven-game series in the opening round against the Maple Leafs before sweeping the top-seeded Panthers and blasting the Rangers in four straight games to get back to the Cup Finals. Their formidable defense, streaky scoring and championship pedigree make them hard to bet against, but their three-peat hopes rest on the shoulders of goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. If he can stall the Avsâ ferocious offense, the Bolts can make it a series. The Lightning would be the first team to win three straight titles since the New York Islanders (1980-1983).
Coloradoâs Snowball Effect: On the other side, the Western Conference champs have been downright dynamic in their playoff run. Theyâre 12-2 in the postseason with two sweeps. They also beat the Lightning twice during the regular season, and theyâre the favorites in the eyes of the oddsmakers. The Avs last won the title in 2001 and 1996. Theyâve only
Team-by-Team Comparison
Avalanche: 56-19-7 (119 points)
Lightning: 51-23-8 (110 points)
Season Series: COL 2-0 / TBL 0-1-1
Players to Watch: Nathan MacKinnon has 11 goals in Coloradoâs 14 playoff games, including five power-play scores to lead the way. For the Lightning, Nikita Kucherov has been the offensive threat with seven goals and 16 assists (23 points). Ondrej Palat (TB) and Cale Makar (COL) are also x-factors to watch, but both teams have star-power across the rosters. The big focus might be on the Avsâ decision in net â Will starting goalie Darcy Kuemper be ready for Game 1? Or will Colorado continue to rely on Pavel Francouz?
Other Storylines: The Avs made quick work of the Oilers in the West Finals, and theyâre entering tonight with a nine-day layoff. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, had just a few days to gear up and travel west for Game 1.
Stanley Cup Finals
Game 1: Lightning at Avalanche (Tonight, 8:00 pm ET)
Odds: COL (-160) | TBL (+140)
Additional Storylines
B/R: 2022 Stanley Cup Finals Predictions: Avs or Lightning?
NBC Sports: Top X-Factors for the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals
ESPN: Stanley Cup Final Megapreview: Lightning 3-Peat or Avs Victory?