TAMPA, FL – Nazem Kadri scored in 12:02 overtime and Colorado Avalanche beat Tampa Bay 3-2 Wednesday night in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final to advance as part of a victory over the dethronement of the two-time championship defender. Lightning.
Playing for the first time since June 4 due to a thumb injury, Kadri intervened against Andrei Vassilevski and sent a shot under the goalkeeper’s right hand to give Colorado a 3-1 lead in the series.
“It was a huge victory. A steady victory, “said Kadri, who was sidelined after being injured in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against Edmonton.
“I’ve been waiting for this my whole life,” added the Colorado center. “I decided it was time to join the party.”
The Avalanche overtook Lightning 11-3 in overtime. Vassilevsky stopped Logan O’Connor when he broke away, and Colorado hit a crossbar and another hit the crossbar before Kadri stopped him.
Game 5 is Friday night in Denver, where Colorado won the first two games of the series and is 7-2 this postseason.
Anthony Sirelli scored 36 seconds of the game, and Victor Hedman also scored in the Lightning regulations. They led 2-1 in the third period.
Nathan McKinnon scored in the second period of a strong game for Colorado, and Andrew Collano tied the score early in the third.
Darcy Kumper, who was drawn from Game 3 after scoring five goals in a 6-2 loss, stopped 37 shots and assisted on the winning goal for Avalanche.
Vassilevski finished with 35 saves. He has recovered from conceding 11 goals in games 1 and 2 to limit the top-ranked Avalanche to five in the last two games.
Lightning is trying to become the first team to win at least three consecutive Stanley Cup titles after the New York Islanders won four in a row in 1980-83. Avalanche last lifted the Cup in 2001.
Lightning recovered from a poor game in Games 1 and 2 to make it interesting by neutralizing Colorado’s speed, limiting Avalanche’s goal opportunities and increasing the pressure on Kumper, who was barely tested when he faced just 16 shots at 7- 0. in game 2.
Sirelli’s goal was the fastest in the Stanley Cup final since 2006, and Lightning set the tone for another tense night for Kumper, beating Avalanche 17-4 in the opening period. Two of Colorado’s shots came during short-hand skating, killing Tampa Bay’s first powerful game of the evening.
McKinnon’s first goal of the series – the 12th of the playoffs – erased Colorado’s early deficit at 5:17 of the second period. Avalanche equalized again when Collano, assisted by Nico Storm and Darren Helm, scored in a draw less than three minutes after the third.
INJURIES
Kadri returned to the squad after missing four games. He has been out since injuring his thumb when he was put on board by Evander Kane in Game 3 of Colorado’s victory over Edmonton in the Western Conference final.
Kane received a heavy penalty and was penalized for playing
As expected, Lightning’s right wing Nikita Kucherov played, and center Brayden Point was again out of the lineup for the defending champion.
Kucherov left Game 3 after being screened by Devon Touz of Colorado.
A point played in the first two games of the final after missing 10 consecutive due to a right leg injury.
Avalanche’s left winger Andre Burakowski (hand) missed his second game in a row. He was injured when he blocked a shot in game 2.
AUXILIARY HANDS
Mico Rantanen and Cale Maker assisted on McKinnon’s goal, giving both of them 20 this postseason – a franchise record for one playoff year. Peter Stastney was 19 with Quebec in 1985.
Add Comment