Stanley Cup Finals: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Colorado Avalanche ( Avs lead 3-2)

[Stammertime91]

Great time for playoff stamkos to hit a level he never has in the past. It's going to take a lot for us to do it. I think Colorado is our biggest test across these 3 postseasons and we are their biggest challenge this postseason most definitely.

We have the goaltending advantage clearly. Defense depends on how the teams match up stylistically but I like ours. Colorado is deep up front. Very similar to us. I don't follow the Avs too much to know every single thing about them but they'll pose a great challenge for us. I think people predicting this ends in 4 or 5 are wrong. I actually think Colorado has the character to push us but I question their composure late in games or if they trail in the series at all.

It'll be a fun matchup to watch if you're a neutral. Agonizing if you're an Avs or Bolts fan though.

 

[OurlordAndSaviorKuch]

……wait where do you think a thumb is?

Surgery is surgery, still kinda needs that thumb lol

 

[JoeSakic13]

Surgery is surgery, still kinda needs that thumb lol

hob·ble
/ˈhäbəl/

verb
1.
walk in an awkward way, typically because of pain from an injury.
"he was hobbling around on crutches"

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Tampa in 5. Colorado is a decent team with suspect goaltending.

Colorado has hardly faced NHL goaltending these playoffs, and when they did they were on the losing end

I say Tampa in 6, with a bit of sentiment towards the Avalanche.

While the Avalanche clearly lack skill in goaltending as of now, I think the use of offensive defense, in the case of Makar, can boost up scoring. We've seen Vasilevskiy falter to Rangers' average offense, and I think with Colorado's opportunities, they can make high-scoring games to take the series to six games. I highly doubt they will be able to win the Cup, though.

 

[SimpleJack]

Tampa in 5. Colorado is a decent team with suspect goaltending.

Colorado has hardly faced NHL goaltending these playoffs, and when they did they were on the losing end

“decent” my ass

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

After the story about MacKinnon being a control freak, there is no way I can warm up to him or the Avalanche.

more details??

 

[Killer Orcas]

TB in 5 Avs are gonna get shell shocked up against the Lighting. Point might be back soon as well TB gonna be even stronger.

 

[PAZ]

It's funny how people are saying Tampa in 5 when Toronto with a .887 SV% Jack Campbell took them to game 7.

Avs clearly have the goaltending disadvantage but are also the most complete team Tampa will have faced. This is going to go 6-7 games.

 

[S E P H]

Lol, NHL needs to do something about this scheduling rubbish. Stanley Cup Finals, best of the best...getting played in 32 C weather with 98% humidity in Tampa. Ice isn't going to suck at all...

 

[tuozzi]

Hate Tampa, but this feels like the only just match up for the finals. Avs in 7.

 

[S E P H]

THE AVS ARE GETTING SWEPT. QUOTE ME WHEN IT’S DONE.

How can Avs get swept when they're going to lose in three?

 

[Blade Runner]

Colorado won both games in reg. season, they can make it.

 

[Habssince89]

TB fans, do not count your chickens.... This years avs are NOT last years habs haha. This will go down to the wire.

Avs D is superior and I think they're going to be the key in eliminating the boring trap crap TB does so well. TB's D is a bit too slow and I think the Avs are going to pressure them successfully and get quality rush chances. TB will have to take a much different approach to this series. They've certainly had a harder road than COL, but it doesn't matter. The Avs are going to force them out of their boring shutdown style. If TB wins, they'll win in style.

 

[Kurtz]

Too much rest for Colorado means Tampa is taking game 1. And it won't get much better for Colorado from there. TB in 6.

 

[Armourboy]

I'd call it a pick'em tbh.

Tampa has the better goalie but if there is one team that can keep Tampa pinned it is probably Colorado.

Tampa has the experience while Colorado has had more rest through the playoffs.

Should be fun to watch.

 

[GreenLine]

Bolts in 5. Avs have a ton of skill but play with too little structure and don't have the goaltending to bail them out. Tampa will grind it out and capitalize on every mistake.

I hope I'm wrong and it's more entertaining than that.

 

[JKG33]

“decent” my ass

Who has Colorado defeated that makes them seem like this stud team? If they beat Tampa sure I'll give them credit, but Tampa is far and away the best team they've faced.

Right now the Avs are 1-1 these playoffs against legitimate competition (St Louis with Binnington in net). Beating up on the Preds and Oilers isn't impressive at all

 

[the_fan]

Who has Colorado defeated that makes them seem like this stud team? If they beat Tampa sure I'll give them credit, but Tampa is far and away the best team they've faced.

Right now the Avs are 1-1 these playoffs against legitimate competition (St Louis with Binnington in net). Beating up on the Preds and Oilers isn't impressive at all

Blues are a better team than anything Tampa faced in 3 rounds

 

[Freudian]

Blues would have beat the Avs with Binner, he was spitting out Conn Smythe numbers.

But nobody is beating TB this year unless injuries to their goaltender and blueline occur.

Extrapolating is fun.

Makar is coming into the finals playing at a 5 P/GP pace. No way Tampa will be able to keep up with that.

 

[Avaholic29]

Tampa in 5. Everyone that's expecting an awesome match up that we've been waiting years for will be disappointed. Colorado isn't built for this and they aren't playing against back ups and 40 year old goalies anymore. Tampa is going to play great defense and clog everything up and block shots so you're going to have a defensive goaltending battle. Are you taking a conn Smythe vezina vasi or kuemper with one working eye? Exactly. And point is back so they can skate with the avs. Difference will be defense and goaltending

Lol imagine thinking the avalanche have never faced a starting goalie before. Didn’t matter who was in net in those series avs absolutely dominated every facet of the game.

 

[JKG33]

Blues are a better team than anything Tampa faced in 3 rounds

Ill agree there. But Only for the two games they had Binnington in net

 

[the_fan]

Ill agree there. But Only for the two games they had Binnington in net

I mean injuries hurt teams but Avs had to win a series against McDavid and Oilers with their back up

 

[JKG33]

I mean injuries hurt teams but Avs had to win a series against McDavid and Oilers with their back up

Except the Avs starter is nothing special, and the gap to the backup isn't much so Keumper going down isn't the handicap that losing Binnington was for St Louis

 

[Video Nasty]

It's funny how people are saying Tampa in 5 when Toronto with a .887 SV% Jack Campbell took them to game 7.

Avs clearly have the goaltending disadvantage but are also the most complete team Tampa will have faced. This is going to go 6-7 games.

Tampa Bay has earned it. They are going for a 3 peat and have been a very successful organization over the past 8 or so years. The Avs on the other hand are here for the first time and it’s their biggest accomplishment in over 20 years.

People need to give it up with the Leafs taking them to 7 mantra. The Lightning are 10-2 since they fell behind 3-2 against the Leafs. They’ve let up just 21 goals in those 12 games after letting up 20 in the first 5. They have clearly gotten back into the rhythm of winning and playing phenomenal hockey in all aspects.

These Lightning are the most battle tested hockey team we’ve seen in decades. The Avs being a complete team is irrelevant because Tampa Bay has won 11 playoff series in a row and have a 46-19 record since the start of their run. They’ve faced many teams and have dropped every one of them. They’re not going to be surprised or mystified by the Avs.

The Lightning are not unbeatable and if anyone has a chance to knock them off, it is the Avalanche, but until they actually lose, they have earned every bit of confidence, assurance, and praise that people have heaped on them.

I picked the Lightning in 6, but getting it done in 5 would not remotely shock me.

 

[Nicko999]

Are people seriously betting AGAINST Tampa??? Tampa in 6.

Although, if there is one team that might beat the Lightning in a best of 7 series, it's Colorado.