Avalanche vs. Lightning: What to watch for in Game 3 of 2022 Stanley Cup Final

The Colorado Avalanche are halfway home to their first Stanley Cup title in 21 years. A 7-0 drubbing of the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 2 Saturday night has many believing this series is over. But the play now shifts away from Ball Arena in Denver, which could revitalize a Tampa Bay team that has been unable to deal with the speed of the Avalanche.

Colorado has made the Lightning pay for each turnover and while the series isn’t over, there’s plenty of work left to do for both teams.

Let’s take a look at what to watch for ahead of Game 3 tonight from AMALIE Arena in Tampa Bay.

• A bounce-back for Vasilevskiy: The Lightning goalie allowed a playoff career high seven goals in Game 2, a night to forget. But the netminder has found a way to rebound after tough nights like Saturday. Vasilevskiy is 19-13-1 after games where he’s allowed at least five goals, and 4-2 in that situation during these playoffs.

“Listen, we left him out to dry tonight,” Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said after Game 2. “He’s been our backbone for years and years and years, and we owe it to him to have a better game next game. I mean, it could have been more. He made some unbelievable saves. By no means is this on him tonight. We’ve got to be better as a group.”

• Injury updates: Brayden Point did not take part in Monday’s morning skate and head coach Jon Cooper said he will be a game-time decision. Point, you’ll recall, missed both the Second Round and Eastern Conference Final after suffering a lower-body injury in Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the First Round.

Burakovsky, meanwhile, hurt his hand blocking a shot in Game 2 and did not travel with the Avalanche on Sunday. He is expected to arrive in Tampa Bay Monday afternoon and will be