The Colorado Avalanche are 2022 Stanley Cup champions

The Colorado Avalanche have won the 2022 Stanley Cup. 

With the Tampa Bay Lightning biting at their heels, trying to force a comeback down 3-1, all the pressure was on Colorado to finish the job in Game 6. They did just that with a 2-1 win, partially thanks to Nathan MacKinnon, who had points on both goals on the night.

It’s the third Stanley Cup in the Avalanche’s franchise history, their first since 2001. They had a dominant season, and even more dominant postseason, finally overcoming that second-round hump, and never trailing in a series during a 16-4 run.

For the Lightning, it’s the end of a dynasty. It ends an 11 series win streak, and more importantly, it’s the end of a Stanley Cup winning streak, just two wins away from their third straight Cup.

That said, the Cup didn’t come easily. The Lightning kicked off Game 6 the way they did in Game 5, and that was with a goal, although this one came much earlier, and this time, it came from the captain. After some tough board play from Nikita Kucherov, Ondrej Palat grabbed the loose puck and set up Stamkos right in front of the net, and Stamkos buried it to give the Bolts a 1-0 lead.