STANLEY CUP SUMMARY

NHL / Hockey

Written by Chase Howard

After much enjoyment and excitement, it's time to finally close the book on the 2021-22 NHL, congratulations to the Colorado Avalanche for winning their third franchise Stanley Cup. Let's take a quick look at how they did it.

Source (Background Photo): NBC

It took six games for the Avalanche to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning who appeared in but failed to win their third consecutive Stanley Cup. The series started out on a wild note with a few high-scoring games, before closing with three straight tense contests, all won by a single goal. At the end of the day though the Lightning was unable to keep up with the Avalanches' high-flying play, especially as the injuries and the toils of three straight runs to the finals set in. Tampa Bay's tried-and-true trapping defensive style, which stymied high-powered offenses in the first three rounds, finally met its match in the speed and depth of Colorado. Due to this Tampa often felt like they were playing behind the puck, struggling to break out of the defensive zone when opportunities arose. On top of this, the Avs played some of their best defense of the playoffs, limiting opportunities and clogging up the middle. In part due to this, the Lightning struggled on special teams, playing a crucial part in this series.

Overall Tampa Bay was only 2/19, a measly 10.5% on the power play in the Stanley Cup finals; failing to take advantage of opportunities, which could have made a difference in this series. Lastly but perhaps most importantly, the Lightning have played 71 playoff games in the last three seasons. This is the most during the three-season span in NHL history, surpassing the previous mark of 65 games by the Chicago Blackhawks from 2013-15. As the 2020 playoffs began in August these 71 games were packed into 23 months, this understandably took a toll on Tampa Bay physically. Key forward Brayden Point returned for the first two contests of the Stanley Cup finals after missing the previous 10 games but was unable to keep playing after. At least half a dozen Lighting players seemed to be playing through injuries, including key skaters Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, and Ryan McDonagh; likely multiple other guys were playing through minor injuries we are unaware of.

Colorado continued their spectacular playoff run, as mentioned above playing perhaps the best defense of the entire playoffs against the stalwart Tampa Bay team. In the series-clinching game 6, the Avs limited Tampa Bay to 23 shots, the third time in the series Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper faced fewer than 25 shots (excluding game 3 where he was pulled in the second period). This includes a dominant game two where the Lightning was limited to only 16 shots and Colorado won the game 7-0. Perhaps the best example of this stellar defensive play was the third period of the deciding game six. Up 2-1 the Avalanche clamped down, even when Tampa was able to get through the Avs relentless forecheck and get to the offensive zone; Colorado kept them to the edges. Clogging the shooting lanes and forcing the Lightning into low percentage shots, with the Avalanche blocking eight of them, the Lightning failed to get many if any quality opportunities to score with the Stanley Cup on the line; being outshot 9-4. Colorado also took advantage of Lightning's mistakes, converting 6 of 13 power-play opportunities in the first four games (46.2%). By the time the Lighting managed to slow them down, with Colorado going on for 3 in the last two games, it was too late. Unlike their counterparts, the Avalanche were able to score when they needed it, with 6 Avalanche players scoring multiple goals in the finals including Valeri Nichushkin (four), Gabriel Landeskog (three), Cale Makar (three), while Nathan MacKinnon, Arturri Lehkonen and Andre Burakovsky scored two apiece.

Colorado defenseman Cale Makar was awarded the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP after finishing the playoffs with more points than all but three defensemen in NHL history, piling up 29 (eight goals, 21 assists) in only 20 games; leading the Avalanche. The only defensemen to ever score more in a playoff run are Paul Coffey with the Edmonton Oilers (37 points in 1984-85), Brian Leetch of the New York Rangers (34 in 1993-94), and Al MacInnis of the Calgary Flames (31 in 1988-89); some highly esteemed company for the 23-year-old. Speaking of age Makar is only the third defenseman to win the Conn Smythe at 23 years or younger, after Bobby Orr of the 1970 Boston Bruins and Serge Savard of the 1969 Montreal Canadiens; more excellent company for the budding megastar.

Well, it's all in the books now, after another excellent year of hockey and another stupendous playoff run all I have to say is… only 104 days until we get to do it all over again.