Lightning vs. Avalanche score: Colorado clobbers Tampa Bay 7-0, takes 2-0 lead in Stanley Cup Final
Sport 2 of the Stanley Cup Remaining started in a similar way to Sport 1: The Colorado Avalanche got here out firing and constructed a fast lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The distinction this time was the Avalanche did not let the Lightning off the ropes en path to a dominant 7-0 win.
The objectives got here early and sometimes for Colorado, as Valeri Nichushkin opened the scoring lower than three minutes into the sport with an influence play aim. Roughly 5 minutes later, Josh Manson doubled the lead, and Andre Burakovsky capped off a three-goal first interval for the Avs. Not like in Sport 1, Tampa Bay had no reply within the second interval, and the Avs put two extra objectives on the board. Colorado tacked on two extra within the third interval, taking a 2-0 sequence lead in spectacular vogue.
Popping out of Sport 2, it is exhausting to seek out any positives for the Lightning. Everybody from Andrei Vasilevskiy outward floundered within the face of the relentless strain from the Avalanche. Tampa Bay got here again from a 2-0 sequence deficit final spherical, however they are not taking part in the New York Rangers now. It is too early to bury the Bolts, however they’ve seemed utterly outmatched in Denver.
The Lightning can solely hope a return to Tampa may help change the momentum on this sequence as a result of the Avalanche are rolling into Sport 3. That sport will start at 8:00 p.m. ET on Monday, June 20.
Earlier than the sequence heads to Tampa, although, listed below are some takeaways from Sport 1.
All Avalanche Once more
After the Lighting obtained totally outplayed in Sport 1, I assumed they’d give the Avalanche extra of a battle in Sport 2. Not solely was that evaluation incorrect, however Colorado someway took its sport to a different degree. The Avs jumped everywhere in the Lighting and did not allow them to come up for air.
In Sport 1, the Avalanche took their foot off the gasoline pedal for just some moments within the second interval — and it price them. The Avs discovered from that mistake this time round, retaining their foot on Tampa’s throat for all 60 minutes. Colorado generated 2.48 anticipated objectives whereas permitting simply 0.89 anticipated objectives, per Pure Stat Trick. The Avs had been in a position to create high-danger probabilities with out giving something up the opposite means. Within the uncommon second when the Lightning had been in a position to get into the offensive zone, they weren’t there for lengthy. Colorado’s protection gained management, and all 5 gamers on the ice shortly went into assault mode. It was most likely essentially the most spectacular staff effort any staff has put collectively on this postseason.
Toothless Tampa Bay Offense
When trying on the scoreboard, the Avs’ seven objectives actually soar out. Nonetheless, the goose egg on the Lightning’s facet is likely to be extra regarding. I belief Vasilevskiy to determine issues out, however Tampa Bay’s offense hasn’t actually generated a lot of something via two video games.
By way of the primary two video games of this Stanley Cup Remaining, the Lightning have solely been in a position to muster 40 photographs on aim and 1.71 anticipated objectives. Probably the most stunning a part of all of that is how ineffective Tampa’s greatest offensive gamers have been. In Sport 2, Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Level, and Ondrej Palat mixed for 0.0 anticipated objectives. Colorado does deserve rather a lot credit score for taking away time and house, however sooner or later these gamers need to make a play and create some harmful scoring probabilities. In any other case, the Avalanche will stroll to their third Stanley Cup in franchise historical past.
Turnaround in Tampa?
The Lightning have been excellent at dwelling this postseason, and so they need to hope a change of surroundings is the remedy for what ails them. I am not able to depend out the back-to-back champions, but it surely’s exhausting to seek out any cause to consider they will even this sequence primarily based on what we noticed in Denver.
When this matchup was solidified, myself and lots of others felt just like the sequence would go six or seven video games. At this level, Tampa Bay is simply hoping to achieve Sport 5. The Avalanche have been taking part in at a special pace than the Lightning, and there is not a easy answer for Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper. That is as bleak as issues have seemed for the Bolts in three years, however maybe they will feed off the house crowd in Amalie Enviornment.
