Lightning vs. Avalanche final score, results: Colorado claims 2022 Stanley Cup with Game 6 win

Bryan Murphy

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Lightning vs. Avalanche final score, results: Colorado claims 2022 Stanley Cup with Game 6 win image

We have a champion. 

The Avalanche defeated the Lightning 2-1 in Game 6 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final to win the championship. 

Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist, Artturi Lehkonen scored the game-winning goal and Darcy Kuemper made 22 saves in the winning effort. 

MORE: Watch the NHL playoffs on fuboTV (free trial)

It's the team's first championship win since 2001 and third in club history. The win stops the Lightning's hope at an historic three-peat. 

The Sporting News provided live updates and highlights from Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final (all times Eastern).

Lightning vs. Avalanche score

Game 6 P1 P2 P3 OT F
Avalanche 0 2 0 0 2
Lightning 1 0 0 0 1

Lightning vs. Avalanche live updates, highlights from 2022 Stanley Cup Final

Final: Avalanche 2, Lightning 1

10:51 p.m.: It's final. The Avalanche are the 2022 Stanley Cup champions. 

10:45 p.m.: Vasilevskiy to the bench with two minutes left. Crunch time. 

10:38 p.m.: Best chance of the period for the Lightning comes on a 2 on 1 with Kucherov getting a shot off but Kuemper reads it perfectly and swallows it up. There's under seven minutes left and we're still waiting for that push from Tampa. 

10:24 p.m.: This is not the period Tampa Bay wanted. They can't get any offensive zone time and are constantly turning the puck over in the neutral zone. They don't have a single shot on goal and were almost nine minutes into the period. The Avs are just killing time in the Lightning's end. 

10:16 p.m.: A big blocker stop early from Vasilevskiy on Val Nichushkin. The puck came from down low to the slot and Nichushkin, just entering into the zone, got a clean shot off straight on the Lightning goalie. 

10:12 p.m.: Puck is down for the third. Will we see a Cup raised, or will a Game 7 be played?

End 2nd period: Avalanche 2, Lightning 1

9:52 p.m.: The Avs grab two goals in the second period to take the lead. A much better period out of Colorado as they are able to frustrate Tampa Bay and get the team off their game. Only 20 minutes left potentially between the Avalanche and the Stanley Cup. 

9:49 p.m.: That was a huge penalty kill by the Lightning. Now they need to reset and get back to their game after losing the lead. 

9:43 p.m.: Ryan McDonagh is going to sit after a clear-cut boarding goal. You could see that one coming, the Lightning are a team playing pissed off after a few non-calls on the Avalanche. But that was stupid by McDonagh and now the dangerous Colorado power play goes to work. 

9:35 p.m.: GOAL! The Avs have their first lead of the game, as Lehkonen buries a shot off a 3 on 2. The puck was bouncing around after an attempted move by MacKinnon and it went right to the Avs winger who buried it past Vasilevskiy on the glove side. It's 2-1 Avs with 7:32 left in the second. Some extracurriculars after the whistle as well as Maroon gets away with a pretty hefty two-handed slash, the Lightning were not happy with a non-call as Manson tripped up Bellemarre before the rush. 

9:24 p.m.: The Lightning have answered after the MacKinnon with a few strong shifts and sustained offensive zone pressure, but haven't been able to get a second puck behind Kuemper. A particularly strong shift out of the Stamkos-Kucherov-Palat line. 

9:15 p.m.: GOAL! The Avalanche are on the board. The Lightning fail to get the puck out and moments later, Bowen Byram finds Nathan MacKinnon for the one-time goal that beats Vasilevskiy short side. It's a tie game 1:54 into the game. 

End 1st period: Lightning 1, Avalanche 0

8:52 p.m.: After 20 minutes, the Lightning lead 1-0. A great start for Tampa Bay results in a goal, but the Avs settle in after the first five minutes and had some solid chances. Colorado was inches away from tying it on the play from Rantanen to Lehkonen. The period felt more physical than normal, which I think plays into Tampa's hands more. Shots were 10-7 in favor of the Bolts. 

8:41 p.m.: Scratch the Kadri chance. Mikko Rantanen makes a heck of a play falling to pass the puck behind him to Artturi Lehkonen alone on the backdoor, but his tip-in attempt hits the post. The Avs have been the better team for most of the period. 

8:37 p.m.: Best chance of the period for the Avs comes from Nazem Kadri, who deflects a shot from the point on net, but Vasilevskiy keeps it out. Under six minutes to go in the period, still 1-0 Lightning. 

8:33 p.m.: Strong response for Colorado after the Stamkos goal, they've have more pressure and chances in the offensive zone for the last five minutes or so. But nothing by Vasilevskiy yet. 

8:25 p.m.: GOAL! The relentless forecheck by the Lightning results in a goal for Steven Stamkos. He's left alone to the side of the net, gets the loose puck and goes five-hole on Kuemper. It's 1-0 Lightning 3:48 into the game. 

8:22 p.m.: Wasted opportunity for the Lightning as Makar is out. No shots on the man advantage for Tampa Bay. 

8:20 p.m.: Early power for the Lightning as Cale Makar is called for interference just 23 seconds in. Not the start Colorado was looking for and a great chance early for Tamp Bay. 

Pregame

7:47 p.m.: Nichushkin is in for the Avs. He's been one of their best players of the series, so he would have been a major loss. 

7 p.m.: A couple of injury notices on both sides heading into Game 6. Brayden Point has been ruled out for the fourth consecutive game in the finals. Jon Cooper rolls out the same crew as he has in Games 3 through 5 with Riley Nash entering the lineup as the 12th forward. For the Avs, both Valeri Nichushkin and Andre Burakovsky will be game-time decisions. Burakovsky has been out since leaving Game 2 with a hand injury. NIchushkin is dealing with a lower-body injury he suffered in Game 5. 

How to watch the 2022 Stanley Cup Final

  • Date: Sunday, June 26
  • TV channels: ABC (U.S.) | Sportsnet (Canada)
  • Live streaming: fuboTV | ESPN+ (U.S.) | SN Now (Canada)

Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Avalanche and Lightning will be broadcast on ABC in the United States and Sportsnet in Canada.

The game can be live streamed on ESPN+ or fuboTV in the United States, and SN Now in Canada.

Lightning vs. Avalanche Game 6 start time

  • Date: Sunday, June 26
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET 

Tampa Bay and Colorado go head-to-head in Game 6 on Sunday, June 26. Puck drop will be shortly after 8 p.m. ET at Amalie Arena in Tampa

Stanley Cup Final schedule 2022

Date Game Matchup/result Time (ET)/Series National TV
Wed., June 15 Game 1 Avalanche 4, Lightning 3 (OT) Avalanche 1-0 ABC
Sat., June 18 Game 2 Avalanche 7, Lightning 0 Avalanche 2-0 ABC
Mon., June 20 Game 3 Lightning 6, Avalanche 2 Avalanche 2-1 ABC
Wed., June 22 Game 4 Avalanche 3, Lightning 2 (OT) Avalanche 3-1 ABC
Fri., June 24 Game 5 Lightning 3, Avalanche 2 Avalanche 3-2 ABC
Sun., June 26 Game 6 Avalanche at Lightning 8 p.m. ABC
Tue., June 28 Game 7* Lightning at Avalanche 8 p.m. ABC

* If necessary.

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.