Avalanche Take Game 6 (2-1) to Capture 1st Stanley Cup Since 2001
Back on top! The Colorado Avalanche completed a dominant postseason run with a 2-1 win in Game 6 on Sunday to top the Tampa Bay Lightning and win their first Stanley Cup since 2001. The Avs swung the series with Nazem Kadri’s OT winner in Game 4 to take a 3-1 lead. After conceding Game 5, they slammed the door on the Lightning's three-peat with a Game 6 win last night in Tampa. Here’s how they did it:
How Game 6 Was Won
Riding a road win in Game 5 with hopes of forcing a Game 7, the Lightning got on the scoreboard first thanks to Steven Stamkos’ early strike (3:48 into the game). Nathan MacKinnon answered with the game-tying goal early in the second before assisting Artturi Lehkonen’s score ten minutes later. That 2-1 cushion was all Colorado needed as Darcy Kuemper closed the net — a shutout over the final 56 minutes and change. A late Lightning scramble couldn’t yield a goal, and the Avs poured onto the ice for a celebration 21 years in the making.
Near Postseason Perfection
The Avs went 16-4 in the playoffs after finishing three points shy of the Presidents’ Trophy (119 points). That 16-4 mark is tied for the second-best playoff record in a single postseason in NHL history. Colorado finished the playoffs with a plus-30 goal differential in their 20 games.
Conn Smythe Trophy: Cale Makar
Colorado’s star defenseman Cale Makar (7 points: 3 Goals, 4 assists) earned the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP. Makar became the third defenseman in NHL history to win the award after winning the Norris Trophy for the regular season. He’s just the seventh defenseman to win the Conn Smythe since 1990.
Three-Peat Struck Down
Tampa Bay’s three-peat hopes came oh-so-close, but their run of 11 straight playoff series wins fell short. It was simply Colorado’s year, but the Bolts dynasty has plenty of optimism that they’ll return.
Back to the Mountain Top
The Avalanche hoisted their third Stanley Cup in team history (2022, 2001 & 1996), and they’re now 3-0 in Stanley Cup Finals appearances. Joe Sakic — the star of the first two title-winning Avalanche squads — built the third one as the GM. And head coach Jared Bednar, who signed a two-year extension two years ago, brought the Avs back to the mountain top after 21 years.
Watch: Avalanche Win Game 6 for 1st Stanley Cup Since 2001
Watch: Avalanche Awarded Stanley Cup (Celebration)
That’s a wrap on the 2021-22 NHL season. Congrats to the Colorado Avalanche!
Additional Storylines
ESPN: Avalanche Open as Favorites to Lift Cup in 2023
USA Today: Avalanche End Lightning’s Reign, Win Stanley Cup for 1st Time Since 2001
CBS Sports: Colorado Avalanche Dent Stanley Cup During Postgame Celebration
