Colorado Avalanche back atop the mountain, claim 3rd Stanley Cup | Avalanche

TAMPA, Fla. — After 21 years, the clock finally struck zero, as the Avalanche jumped off their bench at Amalie Arena and skated into hockey history.

Finally, the Colorado Avalanche have reached hockey immortality once again, etching their names onto the Stanley Cup alongside the greatest to ever don the burgundy and blue. The Avalanche are once again the kings of hockey and the owners of Lord Stanley, defeating the back-to-back champions Tampa Bay Lightning in six games, topped with a 2-1 win Sunday night.

After a disappointing Game 5 loss at home in Denver Friday, the Avalanche appeared to be on the brink of a possible blown 3-1 series lead, having to go back to Tampa with the Lightning holding the momentum. And three minutes into the first period Sunday, Colorado found itself playing catch up for the fourth straight game, as Steven Stamkos gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead.

But the second period was the Avalanche’s. Nathan MacKinnon tied the game on a laser of a shot just two minutes into the second and then assisted on Colorado’s second goal, scored by Artturi Lehkonen, to give the Avalanche the lead.

The Avalanche were stifling in the third period, allowing the Lightning few opportunities on goal and consisted of several key saves by goalie Darcy Kuemper, who finished with 22 saves. And eventually, the clock ran out and the Avalanche stormed the ice as Stanley Cup champions.

Close

Avalanche with Stanley Cup

The Colorado Avalanche team pose for picture with the Stanley Cup after they defeated Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 to win the Stanley Cup at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, Sunday, June 26, 2022. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

06_26_22 stanley cup 04690.jpg

Colorado Avalanche center Darren Helm (43) battle Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) for the puck during the first period of Game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, Sunday, June 26, 2022. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

06_26_22 stanley cup 05666.jpg

Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) is checked over Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the second period of Game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, Sunday, June 26, 2022. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

06_26_22 stanley cup 05509.jpg

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) looks back at Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) goal during the second period of Game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, Sunday, June 26, 2022. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

06_26_22 stanley cup 05138.jpg

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates with defenseman Josh Manson (42) after scoring during the second period of Game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, Sunday, June 26, 2022. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

06_26_22 stanley cup 05074.jpg

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) makes a save of a Colorado Avalanche shot during the second period of Game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, Sunday, June 26, 2022. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

06_26_22 stanley cup 04507.jpg

Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) checks Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27) into the boards during the first period of Game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, Sunday, June 26, 2022. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

06_26_22 stanley cup 04585.jpg

Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) celebrates after scoring against Colorado Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) during the first period of Game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, Sunday, June 26, 2022. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

06_26_22 stanley cup 04701.jpg

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) skates ahead of Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Nicholas Paul (20) with the puck during the first period of Game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, Sunday, June 26, 2022. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

Stanley Cup, warmups

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) skates past Avalanche fans as the team warms up before Game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, Sunday, June 26, 2022. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

The Avalanche closed out all four of their playoff series on the road on their way to the Cup, beating the Predators in Game 4, Blues in Game 6, Oilers in Game 4 and the Lightning in Game 6. They were an incredible 9-1 on the road in the postseason.

Conn Smythe Trophy the latest addition to Cale Makar’s growing trophy case

For the Avalanche, winning the Stanley Cup comes after an offseason that included several key acquisitions such as Darren Helm and Kuemper. And a regular season that included a busy trade deadline, dealing for Josh Manson, Nico Sturm, Andrew Cogliano and Lehkonen.

Colorado’s journey back to hockey glory wasn’t one that started in the summer of 2021, but over a decade ago, drafting Gabriel Landeskog second overall in 2011, now the team’s nine-year captain. Followed MacKinnon, who was drafted first overall the next year and who has now cemented his legacy in hockey lore, once again delivering as the Avalanche’s star in the biggest of moments. And not to be forgotten is Jared Bednar, who was hired in 2015 and who has now won a championship at every level of professional hockey — ECHL, AHL, NHL — as a head coach.

Paul Klee: Game 6 (and 7?) of Stanley Cup final is Gabriel Landeskog’s moment as the next Mr. Avalanche

Bednar and the Avalanche’s core — Landeskog, MacKinnon and Erik Johnson, the Avalanche’s longest-tenured player — suffered through the worst season in franchise history (2016-17) and three-straight disappointing second-round exits in the playoffs (2019-21) before reaching this moment.

But the wait is no longer.

Now, the names of Landeskog, MacKinnon, Johnson, and the other 20-plus players who skated for the Avalanche this season, will be engraved onto the Cup alongside names like Sakic, Forsberg, Roy, and the many others from the ’96 and ’01 Cup teams.