NHL 2021-22

[InThe313]

Have you guys heard me say this before?  The Lightning knocked off the Rangers, 2-1, in Game 6 to advance to their third straight Stanley Cup Final against the Avalanche beginning on Wednesday in Denver.

[InThe313]

The battle for the Cup is on!  The Avalanche are hosting the Lightning, who are seeking a third straight Cup, in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.  Updates to come.

UPDATE:  Who wants bonus hockey?  Game 1 is heading to overtime as the Lightning and Avalanche ended regulation of their Stanley Cup Final game tied, 3-3.

UPDATE 2:  What a thriller tonight in Denver!  Valeri Nichushkin set up André Burakovsky perfectly for a one-timer to lift the Avalanche to a 4-3 overtime Game 1 win over the Lightning.

[InThe313]

Time to see who will leave tonight with momentum.  The Avalanche are looking to build off their series-opening overtime win as they host the Lightning in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.  Updates to come.

UPDATE:  Not even Flex Tape could fix that performance.  The Avalanche routed the Lightning, 7-0, to take a 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final.  That was the most goals allowed by the Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy in any game of his career.

[InThe313]

Will a change in venue swing momentum?  The defending two-time champion Lightning are returning home looking to avoid a 3-0 hole against the Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Final.  Updates to come.

UPDATE:  You can put the broom back in the closet.  The Lightning cruised over the Avalanche, 6-2, in Game 3 to become the third team in Stanley Cup Final history to lose by seven or more goals and win the next game.

[InThe313]

As much as it pains me to say it, this was well-earned.  Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP, beating out Oilers center Connor McDavid and Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin.

[InThe313]

It is big game time!  The Lightning are looking to even the Stanley Cup Final at home against the Avalanche in a critical Game 4.  Updates to come.

UPDATE:  It is time for sudden death hockey.  The Avalanche and Lightning are tied, 2-2, at the end of regulation in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.

UPDATE 2:  What a thriller tonight in Tampa!  Nazem Kadri made a beautiful move to score as the Avalanche won Game 4 on the Stanley Cup Final, 3-2, in overtime to take a 3-1 series lead over the Lightning.

[InThe313]

Is this going to be it?  The Avalanche are looking to close out the Lightning in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final and earn the franchise’s first Stanley Cup since 2001.  Updates to come.

UPDATE:  This series is not over yet.  Ondřej Palát found the five-hole to give the Lightning a 3-2 win over the Avalanche in surviving Game 5 to force Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday in Tampa, Fla.

[InThe313]

Lord Stanley’s Cup is in the building, but will it stay in the case like it did on Friday?  Will the Avalanche lift the Cup for the first time since 2001, or will the Lightning force Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Final?  Updates to come.

UPDATE:  Somebody play “All the Small Things” by Blink-182.  The Avalanche defeated the Lightning, 2-1, in Game 6 to earn their third Stanley Cup in franchise history and first since 2001.