Avalanche win Stanley Cup, end Lightning repeat bid in Game 6

For the first time since 2001, the Colorado Avalanche are Stanley Cup champions. The Lightning did not let their three-peat bid slip away easily, but the Avalanche ultimately won the Stanley Cup in Game 6.

After the Lightning built a 1-0 lead through 20, the Avalanche scored two second-period goals. That ended up being all that the Avalanche needed to win Game 6, finishing it at 2-1.

For all of the talk of frustration for the likes of Nathan MacKinnon, the Avs star drove this Stanley Cup-clinching win. With an incredible 29 points in just 20 playoff games, Cale Makar won the 2022 Conn Smythe.

Overall, Makar had an incredible run. Yet, Cale Makar slogged through a tough start to Game 6 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.

Less than one minute in, Makar took an interference penalty on what could have been an icing. A middling Lightning power play couldn’t connect. That said, Andrew Cogliano was shaken up blocking a shot. It also might have thrown off the rhythm when Colorado started fast.

Between Makar and Nathan MacKinnon, some lost puck battles really burned the Avalanche early in Game 6. Nikita Kucherov created a turnover, and Steven Stamkos beat Darcy Kuemper for the 1-0 tally.

O CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN