Lightning’s quest for three-peat falls just short
June 27, 2022 - The Tampa Bay Lightning’s streak of 11 straight NHL playoff series victories came to a halt at home Sunday night following a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The Avalanche secured their first Stanley Cup in over 20 years, while the Lightning lost the last game of the season for the first time in three years. Playing without star center Brayden Point, Tampa Bay jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after veteran captain Steven Stamkos found the net in the first period. Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen got the puck past Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy in the second, and neither team scored in the third. Most of Tampa Bay’s core remains signed through the 2022-23 season, and coach John Cooper told fans after the game that “we’re not done.” The next NHL season begins on Oct. 11.