Avalanche defeat Lightning in Game 6 to win Stanley Cup MORE:
After years of playoff disappointments, the Colorado Avalanche are back atop hockey’s mountain after dethroning the two-time defending champions.
"It’s hard to describe," said MacKinnon, who led the way in the clincher by blocking shots and taking big hits in addition to his offensive production. “Some tough years mixed in there, but it’s all over now. We never stopped believing.” Much like the Lightning went all in multiple times by trading high draft picks and prospects to load up for the best chance to win the Cup, Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic was not afraid to ante up in March to acquire Lehkonen, defensemanand Cogliano. They became the perfect complement to Colorado’s core that had showed plenty of playoff promise but until now hadn’t produced a championship.
Tampa Bay ended up two victories short of becoming the NHL’s first three-peat champion since the early 1980s New York Islanders dynasty. “He stuck with it, also,” Rantanen said. “He had a tough first year in the league, and I did, too. I can’t believe we’re here six years after.”
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