By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
The NHL’s championship series will not be won by a team sweep.
Down two games to zero, including a 7-0 loss in Denver Saturday, the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning made sure the Stanley Cup Final will last at least five games with a solid 6-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche in downtown Tampa’s Channelside Monday evening.
The NHL put the Lightning’s decisive win into perspective with these nuggets:
The Lightning seized control of the game with four goals in the second period. Tampa Bay knocked out Colorado goalie Darcy Kuemper with three goals in the middle stanza and added a fourth goal against Kuemper replacement Pavel Francouz in the same period.
With the 6-2 win, Tampa trails Colorado, 2-1, in the Best-of-7 Final. Game 4 is Wednesday in Tampa, with Game 5 set for Colorado’s Ball Arena Friday.
In Golden Knights news, just-fired VGK coach Pete DeBoer is expected to be named coach of the Dallas Stars, according to multiple media reports.
DeBoer was 98-50-12 with the Golden Knights after taking over for fired Vegas coach Gerard Gallant in January 2020. DeBoer has coached the Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks besides the Golden Knights.