Andre Burakovsky plays playoff hero again, scores OT winner to lift Colorado Avalanche to Game 1 victory in Stanley Cup Final

DENVER — Andre Burakovsky was like a kid on Christmas morning before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday. Only he ended up delivering the gift.

Colorado's big winger scored the game winner in overtime to lift the Avalanche past the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 for a 1-0 lead in the series. Burakovsky is one of only two Colorado players — along with Darren Helm — to have won a Cup before, back in 2018 with the Washington Capitals. That experience hasn't lessened his excitement to be back competing for a championship, or to be making an impact.

«I was kind of nervous, had a little trouble sleeping last night,» Burakovsky said. «I woke up at 6 in the morning and couldn't wait for the game. I feel like I've been there before and know the situation and know what is at stake.»

Gabriel Landeskog, who also scored in Colorado's victory and was sharing a podium with Burakovsky for the postgame news conference, couldn't help but gently mock his teammate's enthusiasm.

«Just wait until you have kids,» Landeskog said. «You'll be up at 6 every day.»

Burakovsky knew going into Game 1 that he would have an expanded role for the Cup Final and played 12:34 in a special teams-laden matchup. Nazem Kadri is still sidelined with a broken thumb suffered in the Western Conference finals, the same series in which Burakovsky blocked a shot off his leg and was forced to miss games 2 and 3.

He was back for Game 4 and replaced Kadri on Colorado's second line. Burakovsky said earlier this week that he hadn't felt close to being fully healthy again until recently, but it was a good sign for the series ahead. It helped that Colorado had eight days off between completing its sweep of the Edmonton Oilers in the conference finals on June 6 and puck