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Stanley Cup final: Lightning-Avalanche Game 6 live updates

Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen score, and Colorado dethrones Tampa Bay as NHL champion.
 
The Colorado Avalanche celebrate their 2-1 win over the Lightning to win the Stanley Cup Sunday at Amalie Arena.
The Colorado Avalanche celebrate their 2-1 win over the Lightning to win the Stanley Cup Sunday at Amalie Arena. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]
Published June 26, 2022|Updated June 27, 2022

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There will be no three-peat for the Lightning.

Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen scored in the second period as the Avalanche turned a one-goal deficit into a one-goal lead and went on to beat the Bolts 2-1 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final Sunday at Amalie Arena.

With its third championship in its 42-season history and first since 2001, Colorado ended Tampa Bay’s two-year reign.

It also snapped Lightning left wing Pat Maroon’s string of three straight titles (including 2019 with the Blues). Forward Corey Perry lost in the final for a third consecutive season with a third different team after falling short with the Stars and Canadiens the past two seasons.

Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, who had 29 points in 20 postseason games, was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. It is the second time in three seasons the trophy went to a defenseman, as the Lightning’s Victor Hedman won in 2020.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, filling in for commissioner Gary Bettman (who tested positive for COVID), awarded the Stanley Cup to Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog.

Things started well for the Lightning, as they got a power play just 23 seconds into the game and captain Steven Stamkos scored an even-strength goal just over three minutes later to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead.

But MacKinnon scored on a sharp-angle shot just under two minutes into the second period to tie the game, and Lehkonen scored the winner with just over 7-1/2 minutes remaining in the period after a MacKinnon pass kicked off the skate of Lightning defenseman Zach Bogosian to Lehkonen in the left circle.

Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 28 of the 30 shots he faced. The Avalanche’s Darcy Kuemper made 22 saves on 23 shots.

Here’s how it happened:

Third period

Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88), center, watches the puck during the second period of Game 6.
Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88), center, watches the puck during the second period of Game 6. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]

Erik Cernak shot blocked by Nathan MacKinnon

Artturi Lehkonen snap shot saved by Andrei Vasilevskiy

Nikita Kucherov shot deflects behind the net

Kucherov hits the post on 2-on-1 with Corey Perry

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MacKinnon wrist shot saved by Vasilevskiy

Valeri Nichushkin wrist shot from in front saved by Vasilevskiy

Nazem Kadri shoots off back wall on breakaway; blocked by Ryan McDonagh

MacKinnon shot deflected out of play

Vasilevskiy stops Nichushkin from in close

Bowen Byram shot blocked by McDonagh

Logan O’Connor shot deflected wide by Anthony Cirelli

MacKinnon shot from left circle gloved by Vasilevskiy

Nikita Kucherov double-shifting with the fourth line with just under 7 minutes to play

Kuemper slides right to left to smother Kucherov shot from right circle

Lightning pull Vasilevskiy in favor of an extra attacker with two minutes remaining

Kucherov shot from right circle blocked by Landeskog, who loses his skate blade and has to crawl his way off the ice

Avalanche ice the puck

Kucherov shot blocked by MacKinnon

Kucherov fans on shot

Icing waved off

(Avalanche win 2-1, win Stanley Cup 4-2)

Second period

Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38), center, along with Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram (4), left, and Colorado goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) watch play during the first period.
Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38), center, along with Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram (4), left, and Colorado goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) watch play during the first period. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]

Cale Makar shot wide of net

Makar wrist shot saved by Andrei Vasilevskiy

Vasilevskiy skates to the bench to address issue with his mask

Nathan MacKinnon wraparound attempt stopped by Vasilevskiy

AVALANCHE GOAL: MacKinnon scores on sharp-angle shot from deep in left circle off edge of blocker on short side on delayed penalty. Lightning 1, Avalanche 1 (1:54)

Cale Makar appears to be hurting as he skates to the bench

Josh Manson slow to get up after being stopped on chance in front of Lightning net

Darcy Kuemper makes right pad save on Corey Perry shot from right circle

Artturi Lehkonen snap shot from low in right circle saved by Vasilevskiy

Nikita Kucherov shot blocked by Bowen Byram

Valeri Nichushkin hits the post

Andrei Cogliano tip-in saved by Vasilevskiy

Makar shot blocked by Mikhail Sergachev

AVALANCHE GOAL: Artturi Lehkonen scores after puck bounces off Zach Bogosian onto his stick. Pat Maroon breaks his stick off Josh Manson’s skate after the goal. Avalanche 2, Lightning 1 (12:28)

Ryan McDonagh penalized for boarding Darren Helm from behind into the end boards

Nazem Kadri shot blocked by Mikhail Sergachev

Bowen Byram shot blocked by Vasilevskiy

Rantanen wrist shot saved by Vasileveskiy

Lightning kill the penalty; Avalanche had two shots on goal

Cogliano shot blocked by Nick Paul

Erik Johnson wrist shot saved by Vasilevskiy

MacKinnon wrist shot saved by Vasilevskiy

Rantanen shot blocked by Paul

Logan O’Connor chance off Vasilevskiy’s stick

(Avalanche lead 2-1 after two periods)

First period

Lightning defenseman Jan Rutta (44) is seen on the ice during pregame warmups.
Lightning defenseman Jan Rutta (44) is seen on the ice during pregame warmups. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]

Nathan MacKinnon snap shot saved by Andrei Vasilevskiy

MacKinnon misses wide of the net

Cale Makar penalized for interference against Brandon Hagel, and Lightning get a power play 23 seconds into the game

Darren Helm clears the puck out of the zone

Andrew Cogliano blocks Mikhail Serbachev shot from the center point and Colorado clears the puck. Cogliano hobbles to the bench, not putting any pressure on his left leg

Avalanche kill the Makar penalty

Nikita Kucherov snap shot from right circle stopped and frozen by Darcy Kuemper

LIGHTNING GOAL! Steven Stamkos beats Kuemper through the legs after puck kicks off Ondrej Palat’s skate. Lightning 1, Avalanche 0 (3:48)

Bowen Byram deflection saved by Vasilevskiy

Pat Maroon wrist shot saved by Kuemper

Valeri Nichushkin shoots over the net

Zach Bogosian wrist shot saved by Kuemper

Victor Hedman wrist shot saved by Kuemper

Jan Rutta shot blocked by Alex Newhook

Ondrej Palat snap shot saved by Kuemper

Gabriel Landeskog shot blocked by Hedman

Newhook shot blocked by Bogosian

MacKinnon wrist shot saved by Vasilevskiy

Landeskog slap shot saved by Vasilevskiy

Sergachev misses net from high slot

Alex Killorn shoots wide of the net

Avalanche ice the puck

Kucherov shot blocked by Cogliano

Kucherov shot deflected wide by Devon Toews

Avalanche again ice the puck

MacKinnon shot from left circle blocked by Erik Cernak, who is hurting as he goes to the bench

Jack Johnson shot through traffic goes off Vasilevskiy

Jan Rutta limps off the ice and leaves for the dressing room

Nazem Kadri stopped by Vasilevskiy at point-blank range

MacKinnon shot blocked by Stamkos

Artturi Lehkonen chance from top of crease hits right post (4:25 left)

Rutta returns to Lightning bench

Rutta back on the ice

Stamkos knocks down MacKinnon with a shoulder-to-shoulder hit

(Lightning lead 1-0 after one period)

Pregame scouting report

Lightning left wing Pat Maroon (14), left, collides with Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (42) during the third period of Game 5.
Lightning left wing Pat Maroon (14), left, collides with Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (42) during the third period of Game 5. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]

It’s all there for the taking, or the leaving.

The Lightning can make history, or become a footnote to it.

Win the final two games of the Stanley Cup final, and they’ll become the first team since the Islanders of 1980-83 to win three or more consecutive NHL championships.

But lose one, and they’ll join the Penguins, Red Wings and Oilers as teams that fell short in their bid for a third straight title.

Related: Lightning’s Mikhail Sergachev shines on both sides of the ice in Game 5 win

They’ll still be the best team of the salary-cap era (since 2005-06) by virtue of their back-to-back Cups and third straight appearance in the final — an incredible feat under any circumstances, let alone during a pandemic.

But as they’ve reminded us all season, they’re hungry for more.

And it’s within reach.

If they can stay out of the penalty box, avoid the slow starts that plagued them early in the series and force the Avalanche to play at their pace, there’s no reason they can’t win tonight in Tampa and Tuesday in Denver.

Related: Hello, world? Yeah, it looks like the Lightning aren’t quite dead yet

They have the wisdom gained from more than 70 playoff games over the past three seasons and the mettle forged by surviving four potential elimination games during that span, including three this postseason.

But if the Lightning are motivated by the chance to make history, so are the Avalanche.

Win either remaining game, and Colorado will claim the Cup for the first time in more than two decades and only the third time in its 42-season history, including its days as the Quebec Nordiques.

Related: Lightning-Avalanche Game 5 report card: Battling back

Like the 2019 Lightning, who tied a league record with 62 regular-season wins before being swept by the Blue Jackets in the opening round of the playoffs, the Avalanche ache to change their postseason narrative.

So, who will it be?

Lightning or Avalanche?

League history or franchise history?

We’ll find out tonight, or Tuesday at the latest.

Game night scene

• • •

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