And so it begins. Two teams are left in the hunt for the Stanley Cup. The Avalanche and Lightning will soon begin their showdown in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.
The Avs have breezed through the playoffs, with just two losses through the first three rounds. The club swept the Predators, beat the Blues in six and then needed just four games to dismantle the Oilers in the Western Conference finals.
The Lightning's path to the final round has been much different. The Maple Leafs pushed them to seven games in the first round, but then the Panthers had no answer for Tampa Bay in a second-round sweep. In the East finals, Tampa Bay went down 2-0 to the Rangers but then ripped off four consecutive wins to punch their ticket to a third consecutive Stanley Cup Final.
Now, the preseason Cup favorite will square off against the back-to-back Cup champion in what should be a highly entertaining series to cap the 2021-22 NHL season.
STANLEY CUP FINAL PREVIEW: Avalanche vs. Lightning
Here is everything you need to know ahead of Game 1 of the Avalanche vs. Lightning Stanley Cup Final.
When is Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final?
- Date: Wednesday, June 15
- Time: 8 p.m. ET | 6 p.m. MT
The final series begins Wednesday, June 15. Puck drop for Game 1 is set for 8 p.m. ET.
The Avalanche will enter the contest having had eight days of rest. They closed out the Western Conference finals on June 7.
The Lightning will have three days of rest before Game 1.
Where is Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final?
- Venue and city: Ball Arena, Denver
The series will begin at Ball Arena in Denver, home of the Avalanche. Colorado will be the home team in Games 1 and 2, as well as in Games 5 and 7 if those games are necessary.
How to watch Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final
- U.S. TV: ABC
- U.S. live stream: ESPN+ | fuboTV
- Canada TV: Sportsnet | CBC | TVA Sports
- Canada live stream: SN NOW
Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final will air on ABC in the United States. Viewers in Canada can catch the game in English on Sportsnet and CBC and in French on TVA Sports.
Fans in the U.S. can live stream Avalanche vs. Lightning with ESPN+, the ESPN app or fuboTV. Canadian viewers can stream Sportsnet on SN NOW.
Stanley Cup Final Game 1 odds
- Puckline: Avalanche -1.5 (+168) | Lightning +1.5 (-202)
- Moneyline: Avalanche -167 | Lightning +139
- Over/under: O6.0 (-115) | U6.0 (-105)
Odds provided by Sports Interaction.
