Avalanche beat Lightning in Game 1 OT thriller to begin Stanley Cup Final

On paper, a Lightning – Avalanche Stanley Cup Final seemed like it would be a dream for hockey fans — both casual and nerdy. They delivered.

The Avalanche didn’t let a surge from the Lightning discourage them. They kept firing away. Colorado won Game 1 4-3 in OT, giving the Avalanche 1-0 series lead over the Lightning.

Andre Burakovsky scored the overtime game-winner, thanks to some great work from Valeri Nichushkin. Nichushkin created some havoc, and also set up the Burakovsky goal.

Game 1 was all over just 1:23 into OT:

ANDRE BURAKOVSKY! THE GAME 1 OT HERO! #StanleyCup | #GoAvsGo | @Avalanche pic.twitter.com/D1DnEVkFs0

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 16, 2022

Can this series live up to incredible hype? So far, so very very very very good.

Considering the gap between sweeping the Oilers and facing the Lightning in Game 1 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, the “rest vs. rust” debate was reasonably valid for the Avalanche. That said, if you’re like me, you often can’t help how often people take big leaps about rust.

(Hot takes alert: rust is often not the real story, and rest is grossly underrated.)

Well, the rust-obsessed will want to burn the tape here. The Avalanche began Game 1 on a tear, putting the Lightning in an early 2-0 hole after shaky goals allowed by Andrei Vasilevskiy.

First, a Mikko Rantanen shot leaked through Vasilevskiy, with Gabriel Landeskog putting home a loose puck in the paint:

Gabriel Landeskog gets the first goal of the #StanleyCup Final!