2022 Stanley Cup Final It will be a heavyweight battle.
On one side is the Tampa Bay Lightningwinners of the last two Cups, aiming to become the first three-peat champion in the NHL since the New York Islanders won four in a row from 1980-1983.
On the other side is the colorado avalanchewho finished with the second most points in the regular season and are looking to fulfill the promise they have shown for years.
The Lightning, who have won 11 straight playoff series, look like the team to beat. But it’s the Av who they are favorite in the final and enters with the advantage of ice at home. Game 1 is Wednesday (8 pm ET, ABC) at Ball Arena in Denver.
Of Tampa Bay’s three opponents in the final, the dallas stars in 2020, the Montreal Canadians in 2021 and now the Avs: Colorado is by far the toughest, at least on paper. But talented Avs know that the Lightning have a significant advantage in high-stakes experience.
So who will lift Lord Stanley’s Cup? These are the questions that will shape what happens in the final.
Will the Avs be affected by rust?
Colorado made quick work of the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference final, sweeping them. However, Game 4 was played on Monday, June 6, meaning Game 1 of the Cup final will be the Avs’ first in nine days.
Lightning can relate. After sweeping his second-round series with the florida panthersthey also had to wait nine days before starting the Eastern Conference final against the new york rangers …and promptly dropped the first two games. However, he quickly overcame that deficit, winning the next four to set up his date with the Avs.
how invincible he is Andrey Vasilevsky?
The Tampa Bay world goaltender, last season’s winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP, is a leading contender for the award again. The 27-year-old has a .928 save percentage and a 2.27 goals-against average in 17 playoff games.
However, his true value comes when Lightning is about to take down a series. That’s when Vasilevskiy is at his best.
So for the Avs, avoiding falling behind in the series is even more imperative than usual.
Can the lightning contain Nathan MacKinnon?
The Avs star has been on a mission throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs, producing standout goals like this one in the conference semifinals against the St Louis Blues.
MacKinnon has the most goals of any player left in the playoffs, with 11, and seems to get the Lightning’s attention every time he steps on the ice.
Who will be in goal for Colorado?
darcy kumper He was the Avs’ No. 1 goalie all season, but has been knocked out twice through injury in these playoffs. The second time, in Game 1 against Edmonton, pavel francouz he took over and managed the crease the rest of the series.
So who will start by taking on the Lightning? Kuemper told reporters he was “100 percent” last week, so it stands to reason he got the call up for Game 1. But Francouz is 6-0 in the playoffs.
From Rayo’s point of view, both Kuemper and Francouz are good goalkeepers, but neither are they. Igor Shesterkinthe Vezina Trophy finalist for the Rangers whom Tampa Bay had to work very hard to win over in the previous series.
What is the status of the injured stars on both teams?
Both teams could start the Final with key players missing from their rosters.
To Tampa Bay, Downtown brayden point has not played since suffering a lower-body injury in Game 7 of the team’s first-round series against the toronto maple leaves. However, he’s back to skating in practice, and Lightning coach Jon Cooper said Point is “extremely likely” to return at some point in the series.
colorado center nazem kadri was injured when he was checked from behind against the boards by Edmonton’s Evander Kane in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals, a hit that earned Kane a one-game suspension.
Although the Avs have not officially said so, it is possible that Kadri, who has drew a lot of attention during these playoffs – doesn’t play at all against the Lightning
Is this the year for corey perry?
The veteran winger is playing in his third straight Stanley Cup final, but the previous two times he was on the losing end. He played for Dallas in 2020 and Montreal in 2021.
Now, with the Lightning, he’s looking to finally be on the winning side (don’t feel too bad for him though. He already has his name on the Cup, winning it in 2007 with the anaheim ducks).
Meanwhile, his partner patrick garnet he is looking to lift the Cup for the fourth straight season, having done so twice with Tampa Bay and in 2019 with the Blues.
How much gasoline does Tampa Bay have in the tank?
The downside of winning two Stanley Cups in a row: That’s a lot of extra hockey. The Lightning have played 17 games this postseason, after playing 22 in 2020 (during the bubble playoffs) and 23 in 2021.
Will it make any difference now that the Lightning are so close to becoming a full-fledged dynasty? Maybe not, but wear and tear is something to consider this time of year.
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