In the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, the Avalanche face the Lightning. Tampa Bay is hoping for 3 in a row while the Avs are trying to cap off a remarkable season by winning this amazing trophy. Both teams trying to write their name is history. The Lightning are looking to become a dynasty while the Avs are trying to erase former playoff disappointment and win the Cup for the 1st time since GM Joe Sakic won it for them in 2001. The action begins Wednesday from Ball Arena in Denver.
Every time it looks like the Lightning are in a hole, they jump out of it. They were down 2-0 in the series vs New York and also started the Leafs series by losing 5-0. They find ways to win every game and now are in the Cup Final for the 3rd straight year. What I think the Lightning do really well is shut down the opposition. Tampa limited the Panthers to 3 goals in 4 games, they made the Rangers struggle 5v5, and they give nothing to the other team in potential series-clinching games. In this series, the biggest thing the Lightning have to do well is skate with the Avalanche. Colorado stretches the ice and creates a lot of fast rushes so the Bolts have to be fast. I’ll be a hard fought series and perhaps the toughest one for Tampa.
The Avalanche swept the Oilers in some style in Game 4 and they had a long 9 day rest. Artturi Lehkonen got the overtime winner to complete a thrilling comeback in Rogers Arena. This team has proved they can win no matter what, whether they’re on the road or have a bunch of guys injured. They are 7-0 on the road and like Nathan MacKinnon said, “they play a boring and gross 2 way game on the road”. They found ways to win without Girard, Kadri, Cogliano, and their starting goalie Darcy Kuemper. People always talk about how a team needs depth to win the Cup. The Avs are a great example of this. They get secondary scoring and don’t always rely on the big boys to perform. What I think the Avs have to do to win is not take too many penalties and to not make Vasilevskiy too comfortable. After a long wait, this team is 4 games away from winning the greatest trophy on Earth.
I believe that the Colorado Avalanche will win the Stanley Cup in 5 games. The way they’re playing is simply unstoppable and no team can break them. They have so many game changers such as Makar and MacKinnon who just break open the ice. I don’t think Tampa will be able to contend with Colorado’s speed, physicality, and their puck movement. This team is so fun to watch and I think they’ll win and end Tampa’s streak.
One more series to go in the 2022 NHL season. Will Jon Cooper’s Lightning have another banner in the rafters of Amalie Arena or will Gabe Landeskog and the Avalanche be victorious? We’ll find out soon enough in what should be a fascinating series to close out the season.
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