Colorado Avalanche win first Stanley Cup title since 2001

By Jacob Lev, CNN

Updated 0515 GMT (1315 HKT) June 27, 2022

Bowen Byram #4 of the Colorado Avalanche lifts the Stanley Cup after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game 6 of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Finals.

(CNN)The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game 6 to win the team's first Stanley Cup since 2001 on Sunday night. It's the team's third Stanley Cup title overall.

With the score tied 1-1 a little over halfway through the second period, Avalanche winger Artturi Lehkonen scored the game-deciding goal.Colorado Avalanche players celebrate after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals.The Lightning won the last two Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021.Avalanche defenseman and 2021-2022 Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player throughout the playoffs after scoring 29 points in the postseason.«I was trying not to look at the clock too much. Just trying to stay in the moment.» Makar said after the game.Read More«Pure joy being able to throw the gloves off and experience that again. Like I said, it's so amazing to experience it with such a great group of guys,» he added.Avalanche players gather at the boards, celebrating their victory in Game 6.Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar recounted the final moments of the game. «I was nervous as I could be. I didn't even know what the time was when it was ending. I saw guys starting to celebrate on the bench and I was like, 'there's still seven seconds left; what are they celebrating for?' That's the kind of intensity we had back there.»The Avalanche finish the 2022 NHL playoffs with a record of 9-1 as the visiting team. The team's only loss came against Tampa Bay in Game 3 of the