Colorado Avalanche win first Stanley Cup title since 2001
Colorado Avalanche players celebrate after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Six of the Stanley Cup Finals.
By Jacob Lev, CNN
The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game 6 to win the team’s first Stanley Cup since 2001 on Sunday night. It’s the team’s third Stanley Cup title overall.
With the score tied 1-1 a little over halfway through the second period, Avalanche winger Artturi Lehkonen scored the game-deciding goal.
The Lightning won the last two Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021.
Avalanche defenseman and 2021-2022 Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player throughout the playoffs after scoring 29 points in the postseason.
“I was trying not to look at the clock too much. Just trying to stay in the moment.” Makar said after the game.
“Pure joy being able to throw the gloves off and experience that again. Like I said, it’s so amazing to experience it with such a great group of guys,” he added.
Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar recounted the final moments of the game.
“I was nervous as I could be. I didn’t even know what the time was when it was ending. I saw guys starting to celebrate on the bench and I was like, ‘there’s still seven seconds left; what are they celebrating for?’ That’s the kind of intensity we had back there.”
The Avalanche finish the 2022 NHL playoffs with a record of 9-1 as the visiting team. The team’s only loss came against Tampa Bay in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Their nine road wins set a franchise record for most in a playoff year and finish as the second-highest total in NHL history behind six clubs with 10, most recently coming when the St. Louis Blues won the Stanley Cup in 2019.
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