Happy Monday, everyone! Hope you had a lovely weekend.
Let's get right to it.
Good morning to everyone but especially to...
THE COLORADO AVALANCHE
The Colorado Avalanche's offense is what carried them much of the way to a 3-2 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final. Their defense is what made them champions.
In a tense Game 6, the Avalanche smothered the Lightning's star-studded offense and got just enough from their own in a 2-1 Cup-clinching win. Steven Stamkos opened the scoring under four minutes in, but Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen both found the back of the net in the second period, and that was all Colorado needed.
It's the Avalanche's third Stanley Cup, along with 2001 and 1996.The Avalanche came from behind to win 10 times this postseason, tying the 2009 Penguins for most in a single postseason.Cale Makar won the Conn Smythe Trophy, given to the most valuable player in the playoffs. He's the youngest defenseman to win it since Bobby Orr in 1970.The Avalanche had plenty of impressive stretches this postseason, but none was more important than last night's third period. The Lightning -- two-time defending champs, playing at home with their season on the line -- managed just four shots on goal in the final period. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper was outstanding, and seemingly every Avalanche player -- even offensive stars like MacKinnon -- made extra efforts to block shots.
It was an all-around performance from the league's best team, led by one of the league's best players, writes our hockey expert Austin Nivison.
Nivison: "MacKinnon has been the heart and soul of the Avalanche throughout their rebuild, and he developed into a top-five player in the league. Despite his poor luck in this Stanley Cup Final, MacKinnon kept his poise and refused to get frustrated. In Game 6, MacKinnon scored the game-tying goal and assisted on the game-winning goal by Lehkonen. Considering how much MacKinnon has meant to the Avalanche, it was only fitting that he was the one who delivered in this game."Honorable mentions
And not such a good morning for...
Getty ImagesTHE TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
For the last three years, the Lightning had all the answers. All the goals when they needed them most, all the clutch saves from Andrei Vasilevskiy, all the elimination games won and all the series dominated... until last night.
Tampa Bay's dream of being the sport's first three-peat champion since the Islanders won four straight from 1980-83 came to an end, but what a run it was. The Lightning won 11 straight series before falling to Colorado. Stamkos, Vasilevskiy, Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman, among others, shined on the biggest stage.
The NHL instituted a salary cap in 2005 to increase parity in the league. Since then, the Lightning experienced some rough years, some exhilarating titles, and, like this year, some heartbreaking ends, but their run over the past three seasons -- given the era it came in -- won't soon be forgotten. The Lightning won't enter this offseason as champions, but it's been an incredibly impressive ride. I wouldn't count them out from continuing it in the future, either.
