In Game 6 of the final series, the forces began to leave both teams. But if Colorado, with its energy-guzzling style of hockey, still managed to hand out separate power segments, then Tampa Bay, which went three full seasons and in the last home game of the third of them, didn’t had no Braden Point injuries in the roster, and also not counting 100% on Nikita Kucherov, Anthony Cirelli, Brandon Hagel and Eric Chernak, completely faded in today’s encounter.
The Lightning tried to invest as much as possible in the first segment of the game, and in the fourth minute they got the win. Nikita Kucherov crushed Nathan McKinnon behind another goal, and later, with Ondrej Palat, “section” and Cale Makar. Leaving two Conn Smythe Trophy contenders with Colorado on the sidelines, Tampa’s front line opened the scoring with a five-kopeck shot from Steven Stamkos.
After that, the activity of “Tampa” began to decline sharply, and at the beginning of the second period the hosts completely gave the puck to “Colorado”. The Lightning had to rely on their experience in the cup, their ability to endure, their blocked shots, the reliability of Andrey Vasilevsky and a possible “gift” of Darcy Kemper, who could concede optional goals. But the Avalanche goalie spent the rest of the game calmly, and the Avalanche outfielders methodically figured out the hosts’ defensive formations.
Early in the second period, Gabriel Landeskog, McKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, who were on the court together, covered Tampa’s exit from their own zone. Bowen Byram fired an accurate pass from the blue line into the left circle, from where McKinnon landed a powerful one-timer. The puck hit the bottom corner of Vasilevsky’s pancake and went past the goalie.
Overall, McKinnon had the better game in the final series. Colorado’s main striker, after a goal error at the start of the game, no longer allowed misses, actively participating in the creation of his team’s attacks. Because of the Canadian star, not only a goal, but also an assist in the 33rd minute, which led to another shot from the left circle: Artturi Lehkonen sent the puck into the higher goal.
Going into the third period with the score at 1:2, Tampa would like to organize an assault on Kemper’s goal, but the forces of “lightning” were only enough for four shots on target. The highlight was Kucherov’s shot 100 seconds before the final siren, which Landeskog selflessly blocked: after hitting the puck, the blade flew off the skate and McKinnon helped the Swede to the bench.
Valery Nichushkin, who injured his leg in the last game and was limping badly before the start of today’s match, was not so visible. In none of the three final matches played in Tampa did the Russian manage to score points, but he made a huge contribution in the meetings in Denver, earning 6 (4+2) points. Thanks to Nichushkin, Colorado won the first Stanley Cup in 21 years, and Russian hockey players won the NHL’s main trophy for the seventh consecutive year.
NHL. Playoffs. The final
Sixth game
Tampa Bay Lightning (Tampa) – Colorado Avalanche (Denver) – 1:2 (1:0, 0:2, 0:0)
Goals: Stamkos, 3:48. —McKinnon, 21:54. Lehkonen, 32:28.
The series score is 2-4.
Source : MatchTV
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
