It's been a while since the Colorado Avalanche have taken the ice. After sweeping the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Finals, the Avs have been anxiously waiting to find out who they would be matched up with in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Tampa Bay Lightning took care of the New York Rangers on Saturday, setting the stage for an electric matchup in the Stanley Cup Finals. Ahead of the Avalance-Lightning clash, we'll be making our Avalanche Stanley Cup Finals predictions.
The Avalanche will enter this series well-rested, having not played a game since finishing up their sweep of the Oilers on June 6. By the time the Stanley Cup Finals get underway, the Avs will have had nine full days of rest, so they'll be overflowing with energy. Colorado is touted as title favorites this season, and for good reason. They have had no issue getting through the West en route to the Stanley Cup Finals, and they'll look to keep the high-octane offense flowing against the Lightning.
Nathan MacKinnon was his usual dominant self in the series against the Oilers, while the likes of Cale Makar, Mikko Rantanen, Devon Toews, and the rest of the usual suspects were also elite. The offense hasn't skipped a beat in the playoffs, and they'll look to carry that momentum into the series against Tampa Bay. While the Lightning's defense has been impeccable of late, they're in for a different level of talent when up against the Avalanche's top lines, and they may not have the same success in protecting the net against some of the esteemed goalscorers on Colorado's roster.
With all that in mind, here are our Avalanche Stanley Cup predictions for the matchup vs. the Lightning, who are looking to stage a historic three-peat.
Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup Finals Predictions
3. Cale Makar registers more than 1 point per game.
Cale Makar has cemented his status as one of the top defenders in all of hockey during the Avalanche's playoff run, and he's only 23. An elite defender, Makar's true talent shines when he comes up into the offensive third. Boasting an elite slap shot and outstanding skating abilities, Makar is a game-changer through and through. The defenseman is strong and difficult to knock off the puck, while also able to lay out big hits and make life difficult for opposing attackers. He's also an essential part of Colorado's special teams unit, having provided 34 points on the power play during the regular season, as well as 8 power-play points in the postseason.
We're expecting Makar to make a big impact each and every game of this series, making a case for himself to be named the NHL's top defender. It won't only be through assists, either, as Makar will score at least 2 goals throughout the series, in addition to 4+ assists.
2. Avalanche score 2+ goals every game against Tampa Bay
The Avalanche are going to do what the Rangers could not during their series against the Lightning; consistently score goals. After a six-goal onslaught in Game 1, the Rangers were held to just eight goals throughout the next five games, as Andrei Vasilevskiy turned up his game. Vasilevskiy surrendered just one goal in each of the final three games of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Rangers, and if the Lightning want to stand any chance against Colorado, they'll need him playing at that level once again.
Unfortunately for Jon Cooper's side, the Avalanche have arguably the best offense in hockey, and they'll prove a much more difficult task for the Lightning's defenders to hold off the scoresheet. In addition to their blazing speed, Colorado's attackers love to play physically and are willing to fire on net from anywhere in the attacking third. With so many stars to account for, Tampa may find itself overwhelmed by the high-octane Avalanche offense, especially on the power play.
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1. Nathan MacKinnon wins Conn Smythe, Avalanche win Stanley Cup
Nathan MacKinnon has been sensational throughout the playoffs and if the Avs can pull off the series win over the Lightning, he'll likely win the Conn Smythe award. With 18 points in 14 games throughout the postseason, MacKinnon has been the key catalyst for the Avalanche. He has scored 11 goals and provided 7 assists, constantly serving as a threat in the attacking third. MacKinnon will look to use his insane ability to change speeds on a dime in order to find some openings on offense and get some good looks on goal against Vasilevskiy.
If MacKinnon continues to play at an elite level when the series against the Lightning gets underway, the Avalanche should be able to take down Tampa Bay, and it probably won't require more than six games to do it. We're expecting at least five goals in the series from MacKinnon, including a multi-goal performance. If he's able to lead the Avs to a Stanley Cup victory, there's no reason he won't be taking home the Conn Smythe along with it.
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