Unstoppable force, meet immovable object. The Stanley Cup Final matchup is set, and it will feature a clash of juggernauts.
After the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the New York Rangers Saturday to win Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final, the Lightning booked their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final, where they’ll face the Colorado Avalanche.
The Avalanche had the Western Conference’s best record in the 2021-22 regular season and have been just as dominant in the postseason, losing two total games in three rounds and scoring sweeps over the Nashville Predators and Edmonton Oilers. Colorado makes its first finals appearance since 2000-01.
The Lightning advance to their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final and will attempt to become the first team since the New York Islanders of the early 1980s to three-peat as champions. Tampa has won 11 consecutive playoff series.
The schedule for the final is set. Game 1 will take place Wednesday, June 15 at Ball Arena in Denver. The full schedule, as released by the NHL Saturday:
Media Day: Tuesday, June 14
Game 1: Wednesday, June 15, 8 p.m. Tampa Bay at Colorado
Game 2: Saturday, June 18, 8 p.m. Tampa Bay at Colorado
Game 3: Monday, June 20, 8 p.m. Colorado at Tampa Bay
Game 4: Wednesday, June 22, 8 p.m. Colorado at Tampa Bay
*Game 5: Friday, June 24, 8 p.m. Tampa Bay at Colorado
*Game 6: Sunday, June 26, 8 p.m. Colorado at Tampa Bay
*Game 7: Tuesday, June 28 8 p.m. Tampa Bay at Colorado
Per the NHL’s release: “Every game in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final will start at 8 p.m. ET and will be available on ABC, ESPN+ and the ESPN app in the U.S. In Canada, every game will be available on Sportsnet, CBC and TVA Sports.”
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