The Colorado Avalanche ended a 21-year title drought by beating the Tampa Bay Lightning to win the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday.
The Avalanche won their third championship and first since 2001 as they ousted the two-time defending champion Lightning.
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The Lightning, who joined the NHL in 1992, were seeking their fourth Cup (Tampa Bay won its first title in 2004).
The Avs — previously the Quebec Nordiques before moving to Denver for the 1995 season — previously won the Cup in 1996 and 2001.
Colorado, captained by Gabriel Landeskog, won twice in overtime in the series.
Defenseman Cale Makar, who had 29 points in 20 playoff games, was voted the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the MVP of his team during the postseason. Makar, 23, is the third-youngest Conn Smythe winner and was the betting favorite (+300, bet $10 to win $40 total) heading into Game 6.
The Avalanche used the draft to build the nucleus of the roster. Landeskog was the No. 2 pick in 2011, center Nathan MacKinnon was the No. 1 pick in 2013, right wing Mikko Rantanen was the No. 10 pick in 2015 and Makar was the No. 4 pick in 2017.
Here’s the betting recap for the six Stanley Cup Final games.
COMPLETED GAMES
Avalanche 2, Lightning 1 (Avalanche win series 4-2)
Point spread: Lightning (+1.5) cover by losing by fewer than 1.5 goals (1)
Moneyline: Avalanche win as -118 favorites (bet $10 to win $18.47 total); Lightning were -105 underdogs (bet $10 to win $19.52 total)
Total scoring over/under: Under 5.5 goals scored by both teams combined (3)
NOTE: The only time a team came back from a 3-1 deficit to win the title in Stanley Cup Final history was 1942 when the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Detroit Red Wings.
Lightning 3, Avalanche 2 (Game 5)
Point spread: Lightning (+1.5) cover by winning outright
Moneyline: Lightning win as +130 underdogs (bet $10 to win $23 total); Avalanche were -167 favorites (bet $10 to win $15.99 total)
Total scoring over/under: Under 6 goals scored by both teams combined
NOTES: There was a debate about the Avalanche having too many men on the ice when the winning goal was scored in Game 4. The issue was Nathan MacKinnon getting to the bench. “I’ll speak with you (Thursday). You’re going to see what I mean when you see the winning goal,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. “And my heart breaks for the players. Because we probably still should be playing.” … The NHL released a statement saying each of the four officials said they did not see a too many men on the ice, which is not subject to video review. … Tampa Bay was involved in a similar controversy in the 2021 playoffs against the New York Islanders when replays showed the Lightning had too many men on the ice when Ondrej Palat scored in Game 2. The goal stood.
Avalanche 3, Lightning 2 OT (Game 4)
Point spread: Avalanche (+1.5) cover by winning outright
Moneyline: Avalanche win as -111 co-favorites (bet $10 to win $19.01 total); Lightning were -111 co-favorites (bet $10 to win $19.01 total)
Total scoring over/under: Under 6 goals scored by both teams combined (5)
NOTES: Nazem Kadri score 7:58 into overtime to win it as Colorado takes a 3-1 series lead. … Goalie Darcy Kuemper was credited with an assist for his pass out of the Colorado zone to Artturi Lehkonen, who fed Kadri. … The over/under hit the under for the first time in the Final.
Lightning 6, Avalanche 2 (Game 3)
Point spread: Lightning (-1.5) cover by winning by more than 1.5 goals (4)
Moneyline: Lightning win as -118 favorites (bet $10 to win $18.47 total); Avalanche were -105 underdogs (bet $10 to win $19.52 total)
Total scoring over/under: Over 5.5 goals scored by both teams combined (8)
NOTES: Colorado goalie Darcy Kuemper was pulled after allowing five goals on 22 shots and was replaced by Pavel Francouz. … The teams have combined for 22 goals, the most through three Stanley Cup Final games played in 40 years. The New York Islanders and Vancouver Canucks combined for 24 through three contests in 1982. … Game 3 was the first contest in Stanley Cup Final history between teams riding active home and road winning streaks each of seven-plus games. … By scoring a goal in the second period, Corey Perry is the NHL record holder for scoring a Final goal with different teams (four – Anaheim, Dallas, Montreal and Tampa Bay). … Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov is the fourth player in NHL history with 25-plus points in three consecutive postseasons, joining Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky (1983-85), the late Mike Bossy (1981-83) and Bryan Trottier (1980-82).
Avalanche 7, Lightning 0 (Game 2)
Point spread: Avalanche (-1.5) cover by winning by more than 1.5 goals (7)
Moneyline: Avalanche win as -149 favorites (bet $10 to win $16.71 total); Lightning were +115 underdogs (bet $10 to win $21.50 total)
Total scoring over/under: Over 5.5 goals scored by both teams combined (7)
NOTES: The Avalanche are the fifth team to start the Stanley Cup playoffs 14-2. … Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy allowed seven goals in a playoff game for the first time.
Avalanche 4, Lightning 3 OT (Game 1)
Point spread: Lightning (+1.5) cover by losing by fewer than 1.5 goals (1)
Moneyline: Avalanche win as -149 favorites (bet $10 to win $16.71 total); Lightning were +115 underdogs (bet $10 to win $21.50 total)
Total scoring over/under: Over 6 goals scored by both teams combined (7)
NOTES: Andre Burakovsky scored on assists from Valeri Nichushkin and J.T. Compher 1:23 into OT to win it for Colorado. … Teams that win Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final in OT are 14-4 in the series. … The Avalanche improved to 13-2 this postseason.
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