2022 Stanley Cup Final megapreview - X factors, key stats, goalie confidence ratings, predictions

The 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs are down to the final two teams. The Western Conference champion Colorado Avalanche will host the Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET, ABC and ESPN+).

Tampa Bay can become the first three-peat Cup champion since the New York Islanders won their third of four straight in 1982. Colorado is hoping to earn its third Cup in franchise history, and its first since 2001.

Whether you've been following these teams your whole life or are just tuning in for the Final, we've got you covered with key players, goalie confidence ratings, X factors and more for both the Avs and the Lightning — plus our picks on who will win hockey's ultimate prize.

Note: Kristen Shilton previewed the Avalanche, while Greg Wyshynski provided insights on the Lightning.

How they got here: Defeated Nashville Predators 4-0, defeated St. Louis Blues 4-2, defeated Edmonton Oilers 4-0.

Goalie confidence rating: 8

Colorado either has the best — or worst — goalie conundrum for this time of year. Instead of just one capable starter, the Avalanche have two: Darcy Kuemper and Pavel Francouz. There's an argument to be made for each of them starting in Game 1 of the Cup finals. The question is, whom will coach Jared Bednar select?

Francouz has had the hot hand of late, and probably the inside track on that all-important, confidence-boosting, you're-the-guy vote from Bednar. Kuemper suffered an upper-body injury in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against Edmonton, and Francouz took over to backstop Colorado in its sweep. Kuemper returned to back up in Game 4 of that series and confirmed last week he is «100 percent healthy.» Earlier this postseason, Kuemper left