The Avalanche defeated Tampa Bay 3-2 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night to move within one victory of unseating the two-time defending champion Lightning.
Avs Got The Catch For Stanley Cup
Nazem Kadri scored at 12:02 of overtime, maybe with too many Colorado players on the ice.TAMPA, Fla. (AP)- Overtime goal has put the Colorado Avalanche within one goal of winning their first Stanley Cup since 2001.
Even if the Tampa Bay Lightning, the two-time defending champions, don’t think it should have counted.
The Avalanche are now just one victory away from winning their first championship in over 20 years thanks to a goal by Kadri at 12:02 of the extra period in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, which Colorado won 3-2.
Lightning coach Jon Cooper implied that the winning goal shouldn’t have been permitted without saying directly that Tampa Bay believed Colorado had too many men on the ice.
According to a statement from the NHL, the on-ice officials can decide whether to impose a penalty. All four referees agreed that they did not observe an instance of too many men on the ice during the winning play. There will be no video review of the call.
The Return Of Kadri
After missing action since June 4 due to a thumb injury, Kadri returned to the lineup and gave Colorado a 3-1 series lead with a shot that went under Andrei Vasilevskiy’s right arm.
The Avalanche outscored the Lightning 11-3 in the extra frame. After Vasilevskiy stopped Logan O’Connor on a breakaway, Colorado had a shot clang off the post and the other hit the crossbar before Kadri scored.
The Match Highlights.
The Lightning took a 1-0 lead in regulation thanks to goals from Victor Hedman and Anthony Cirelli. With a 2-1 advantage, they went into the third period.
Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon scored on a power play in the second period, and Andrew Cogliano tied it up early in the third.
After giving up five goals in a 6-2 loss in Game 3, Darcy Kuemper was removed from the game. He had stopped 37 shots and assisted on the Avalanche’s game-winning goal.
Vasilevskiy made a total of 35 stops. The Lightning outshot the Avalanche 17-4 in the first period, setting the stage for another busy night for Kuemper.
Cirelli’s goal was the quickest in a Stanley Cup Final since 2006. Colorado’s first power play of the night was stopped by two shots that were made while the team was shorthanded.
At 5:17 in the second period, MacKinnon scored his 12th goal of the playoffs to eliminate Colorado’s early disadvantage. Just under three minutes into the third period, Cogliano scored on a deflection with help from Darren Helm and Nico Sturm to bring the Avalanche within one goal once more.
Lightning Eyeing The Cup!
The Lightning is seeking to become the first team to win at least three consecutive Stanley Cups since the New York Islanders claimed four straight titles from 1980 to 1983. In 2001, the Avalanche last raised the Cup.
By neutralizing Colorado’s speed, limiting the Avalanche’s scoring opportunities, and increasing pressure on Kuemper, who was scarcely challenged when he faced only 16 shots in a 7-0 rout in Game 2, the Lightning have improved from their dismal performances in Games 1 and 2 to make it interesting.
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