“Twenty-plus years of just dreaming” – Colorado Avalanche lifts maiden Stanley Cup title since 2001


“Twenty-plus years of just dreaming” – Colorado Avalanche lifts maiden Stanley Cup title since 2001

Colorado Avalanche wins the 2022 Stanley Cup for the first time since 2001

Colorado Avalanche dethrones the reigning champions in a 2-1 win in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Sunday night. It’s the first time for Avalanche to hoist the Stanley Cup since 2001. It’s the Colorado Avalanche’s third Cup victory overall. With the score tied 1-1 over halfway through the second period, Avalanche winger Artturi Lehkonen scored the game-deciding goal. The Lightning on the other hand has won the cup two consecutive times in 2020 and 2021. 

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Avalanche captain, Gabriel Landeskog said, “Twenty-plus years of just dreaming, wanting and working for it,” Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog said. “Just finally coming to fruition after a lot of crazy years and a lot of hard work. This group is just amazing, and all the way from the top to our massage therapists to our wives to the fans to everybody working in Ball Arena. It’s incredible.

“[General manager Joe Sakic] did a great job of picking up some pieces along the way that really, really made us hard to play against. You look at [Cogliano], you look at [Darren Helm], you look at [Nico Sturm], [Manson], you look at all these guys, all these pieces that, they just want to win so bad and they just want to do whatever it takes, and it just adds up to just a really hard team to play against.”

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Colorado Avalanche wins the Stanley Cup Final in Game 6

Colorado Avalanche wins the 2022 Stanley Cup for the first time since 2001
Colorado Avalanche wins the 2022 Stanley Cup for the first time since 2001

During Game 6 Colorado Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and assist while Artturi Lehkonen scored for the Avalanche. Their team play assisted Avalanche to bounce back from a 3-2 loss in Game 5 at home on Friday to win the Cup Final for the third time in their history. Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper recorded 22 saves. 

As per nhl.com, MacKinnon commented, “Nothing but amazing. I have no complaints. Some tough years mixed in there, but it’s all worth it now. We never stopped believing. The core guys that have been around, 10 years now, coming in at 18 like Gabe, and [Erik Johnson], to now, it’s been amazing. It’s so amazing to see guys like [Andrew Cogliano], Jack Johnson, all the veterans, [Josh] Manson, guys that haven’t won it yet. It’s so amazing.”

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As for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Steven Stamkos scored and Andrei Vasilevskiy registered 28 saves for the Lightning. Lightning coach Jon Cooper commented, “The playoff streak, that ended, but it’s not the end of our run”. “… Sometimes you don’t really remember as much the teams that didn’t win, but I think I’ll remember this team the most. What these guys went through, the injuries, it was well documented the warriors they were. You should see what’s going on [in the locker room]. I’ve never seen anything like this or been more proud of a team than this group. I will always remember them, and we didn’t win. It’s a tribute to them. It’s crushing, though.”

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Stamkos gave Lightning a 1-0 lead at 3:48 in the first period wherein MacKinnon tied it 1-1 in 1:54 of the second period, whereas Lehkonen gave Avalanche a 2-1 lead. Avalanche outshot Lightning 9-4 in the third period. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar stated, “Every emotion you can possibly think of”. “I’m just so happy and so proud of these guys and what they’ve put in. To see them get rewarded for all their hard work, it’s hard to describe. There’s a sense of relief, a sense of satisfaction. It’s still sinking in. When the buzzer went, there was almost disbelief that we got the job done. It’s been an amazing ride, and I’m just grateful to have been able to be a part of it with this team.”

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