For the third time in its history, the Colorado Avalanche were able to lift the trophy coveted by all NHL teams.
Last night, the Denver franchise won (2-1) in the final of the North American League on the ice of Tampa Bay, a fourth victory sufficient to close the formidable series that began on June 16.
Colorado, already crowned in 1996 and 2001, above all put an end to the reign of Tampa Bay of Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, who had been flying over the NHL since the 2019-20 season thanks in particular to his two Russians, the prolific striker Nikita Hucherov and goalkeeper Andri Vasilevskiy.
While they had only one game to win to celebrate their victory, the Avalanche players had blown a cartridge by bowing Friday in front of their audience (3-2).
However, they knew how to react perfectly in Tampa Bay to avoid a final meeting under tension in Denver.
The outcome of this final, played in the best of seven sets, owes a lot to Nathan MacKinnon, author of a goal and an assist.
“It's incredible, dropped the hero of the evening.
It is difficult to explain.
Words can't describe what I'm feeling right now.
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Lucky Lehky.#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/Pe4HFczCYx
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 27, 2022
His Canadian teammate Cale Makar was voted best player of the play-offs, having scored 8 goals and provided 21 assists in 19 matches: "It's so great to be part of this group and to be rewarded," said the 23-year-old defender.
I'm so proud of the boys.
I grew up with Stanley Cup images on my bedroom walls.
It's surreal and incredible.
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Prior to this season, the Avalanche hadn't made it past the conference semifinals since 2002. Just five seasons ago, the Denver franchise was the laughingstock of the NHL after finishing the 2016-17 regular season with a calamitous record of 22 wins and 60 losses, one of the worst in history.
The franchise was founded in Quebec.
His team was called the Quebec Nordiques until he moved to Denver in 1995 due to financial difficulties when the club was sold to a group of investors.
The Avalanche are the second NHL franchise to settle in Denver, after the Colorado Rockies who played in Denver between 1976 and 1982 before moving to Newark, New Jersey.
The Avalanche went down in NHL history by being the first franchise to win the Stanley Cup the year after a move.