Coming into the Stanley Cup Finals there was the expectation that if any team was going to take a two games to none lead it would be the two-time reigning champion Tampa Bay Lightning. Unfortunately for Tampa Bay the Colorado Avalanche had other ideas.
After two games it is Colorado with the two game advantage with Saturday’s lopsided 7-0 victory leaving the hockey world stunned. Game 1 was extremely completive with Tampa Bay forcing overtime after trailing 3-1 late in the 1st period. The resiliency, experience, and grit displayed by the Lightning made it appear that this would be a close and hard-fought series. While it is only two games and there is still a lot of hockey to be played, Game 2 did not provide the same hope.
Colorado proceeded to thrash Tampa Bay taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals. It was a goalapalooza at Ball Arena as the Avs sent the home crowd home happy. No matter the situation it was Colorado still finding the back of net with two power play goals and one of the shorthanded variety.
The series now shifts to Tampa as Colorado has a chance to do the unthinkable and sweep the Lightning and lift the trophy on the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champions home ice. Of course as mentioned previously the Lightning are an experienced squad and should not fold as easy as they did Saturday. If things ultimately go Colorado’s way an easy explanation would be multi-year fatigue on Tampa Bay’s end of things as lengthy playoff runs eventually catch up to the best of teams.
For the fans who do not have a stake in the series a longer more competitive series would be more entertaining to watch. It would also be more likely that the Lightning can climb out of their 2-0 hole and potenailly win the Stanley Cup for the third consecutive year.
