Avs win in a rout, the Mullet Meter pumps up the crowd and more from Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final

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11:00 PM ET

The Tampa Bay Lightning experienced a Colorado Avalanche in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday — pun intended.

Colorado scored early and often, notching three goals in the first period. The onslaught never let up, as the Avalanche routed the Lightning 7-0. Valeri Nichushkin and Cale Makar scored two goals apiece for Colorado.

For the Lightning, it was their largest margin of defeat in a playoff game, per ESPN Stats & Information. Before Saturday’s blowout, the biggest margin was five goals (Game 1 in the first round of the 2022 postseason against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Game 6 in the 1996 conference quarterfinals against the Philadelphia Flyers).

Tampa Bay is now in an 0-2 hole for their second straight series, which could be the beginning of the end for their three-peat aspirations. The previous five teams that have seen that series deficit in both the semifinals/Conference Finals and the Cup Final of the same postseason failed to win the championship. The most recent instance was the Chicago Blackhawks in 1965.

Fans in Ball Arena brought the energy all night to help their team secure a 2-0 series lead. Some spectators turned their fandom into formal attire, while others celebrated an upcoming wedding rinkside.

Here’s a look at the best scenes from Game 2 of the Stanley Cup.

Final takeaways

Utter domination by Colorado. There’s no other phrase for a 7-0 win.

The Avalanche were in control from start to finish, and it was no fluke effort. Colorado hustled. They won the races, owned the neutral zone, and simply skated faster, harder and hungrier than the Lightning. Tampa Bay looks like they can’t keep up. They’re running out of time already to prove that’s not the case.

When Cale Makar buried two more on Tampa Bay in the third, including one shorthanded, it was an emphatic nail in the coffin. Colorado wouldn’t stop pushing. The Lightning never found ways to push back.

What happens now as the series shifts south? Can the Lightning find their legs in lower altitude? We’ll find out in a hurry. — Kristen Shilton

Another one

We’re running out of things to say about the Avs’ offensive explosion, so we’ll just give it to you straight. Cale Makar scored his second goal of the game and it’s 7-0. That’s the most goals allowed by Andrei Vasilevskiy in any game of his career.

Business in front, party in the back

The best way to get fans to make noise? Measure their loudness in mullet form.

Insult to injury

The Lightning had an opportunity to get on the board during a power play … but the Avalanche are even scoring shorthanded goals now. Cale Makar just made it 6-0 — the 16th goal by an Avalanche defenseman this postseason, which is the most in franchise history. The 6-goal deficit matches the largest by any team at any point of a game over the last 10 Stanley Cup Finals.

Avalanche second period takeaways

The resurrection of Valeri Nichushkin continues in earnest. For the second straight game, Nichushkin is arguably (or even inarguably) Colorado’s best player. And Game 2 has been even better than Game 1.

It’s not just that Nichushkin is putting up points (he has two of Colorado’s five goals so far). The winger is also playing terrific defense. He’s forechecking. He’s making plays. Every shift Nichushkin takes feels like it could be a difference-maker for the Avalanche.

And Tampa Bay has no answer for Nichushkin. They can’t bully him off the puck or stand up to his physicality. Nichushkin has been able to have his way at both ends of the ice.

When he skated through the Lightning defense with another great move, Andrei Vasilevskiy had to make a highlight-reel save to hold off a Nichushkin hat trick. Same thing late in the period on the power play.

Colorado’s depth was always going to challenge Tampa Bay. Perhaps the Lightning didn’t anticipate how much. For all the good things Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Cale Makar can do, they’re not the ones inflicting the most damage right now. It’s Nichushkin, Andre Burakovsky and role players like Darren Helm and Josh Manson pushing their buttons. — Kristen Shilton

Lightning second period takeaways

I asked Lightning coach Jon Cooper today about his team’s incredible defensive numbers in Game 2s since 2020, as Tampa Bay had a 1.91 goals-against average and went 9-2 in that span.

“You have to have a group that’s going to do it, willing to commit to doing the things that need to be done. But I think playing that one game, the first game, now you’ve got a little bit of feel for the team, and I think that goes for everybody from the goalie on the way out,” he said. “That’s not to say, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re going to win tonight.’ I’m not saying that, but we’re more comfortable now with what we need to do in our game, and I think getting through that Game 1 is part of that process.”

Welp, there goes that theory!

It can’t be underscored enough how uncharacteristic this 5-0 Game 2 deficit is for the Lightning. They had never given up more than three goals in a Game 2 in that 11-game span. Vasilevskiy had a .938 save percentage in those games; against Colorado in Game 2, he has a .783 save percentage so far. Another huge change for the Lightning: They scored the first goal in nine of those 11 games.

In Game 2 against the Avalanche, they’ve yet to score through two periods. Colorado has done so five times. — Greg Wyshynski

Not one, not two …

… but five goals for the Avalanche, with the latest by Darren Helm. If the Lightning have any ideas on how to stop the onslaught, now’s the time.

Nichushkin scores again

The goals keep coming for the Avs. Valeri Nichushkin scores for the second time in Game 2 to make it 4-0.

Celebrity Sightings

Current Buffalo Bills pass-rusher and former Denver Bronco Von Miller gave the Avalanche’s first period two thumbs up.

Former Avalanche player Matt Calvert is present at the Ball Arena to cheer on his old squad. Calvert played for the team from 2018-2021.

Avalanche first period takeaways

Colorado put on a clinic in the first period.

Despite Tampa Bay’s pledge to weather the first 10 minutes better in Game 2 than it did in Game 1, the Avalanche have been all over the Lightning.

It started with Colorado’s play through the neutral zone. The Avalanche were so active with their sticks disrupting plays and turning pucks over to halt any attempts by Tampa Bay to enter the zone. And when the Lightning did make it across the blue line, Colorado suffocated defensively by forcing them to the outside, laying hits along the boards and breaking up passes. The Avalanche are shutting down shot lanes with gusto. Tampa Bay can barely get a look on goaltender Darcy Kuemper.

Colorado is also so good at creating those odd-man rush opportunities, including the one Josh Manson scored on to make it 2-0. The Avalanche are executing so crisply at both ends of the ice that every mistake the Lightning make winds up either around — or in — their net. Colorado saw many of its chances blocked in Game 1. They’ve adjusted and are going in tight on Vasilevskiy for tap-in goals. So far, it’s working. — Kristen Shilton

Lightning first period takeaways

The first period of Game 2 was an abject disaster for the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team that vowed to have a better start and be better overall in Game 2.

Anatomy of a terrible start, Part 1: The Lightning began the game with their checking line against Nathan MacKinnon’s line. It started strongly as their forecheck forced the Avalanche’s top line to defend in their own zone. Then defenseman Erik Cernak fumbled the puck at the blueline. Then the Lightning turned the puck over in their own zone twice, while the referees let a hooking call on the Avalanche against Alex Killorn go. Then defenseman Ryan McDonagh took a hooking penalty just 1:01 into the game, giving the second-best power play in the playoffs (31.3% efficiency) a chance to cook. And then it was 1-0.

Anatomy of a terrible start, Part 2: The Lightning were again on the forecheck, with all three forwards against the end boards. The puck squirted loose. McDonagh tried to pinch to play it. Instead, it was Avalanche forward Alex Newhook who made a quick pass to spring an odd-man rush the other way that resulted in Josh Manson’s goal. And then it was 2-0.

Anatomy of a terrible start, Part 3: Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy entered the game with a .938 save percentage in Game 2s since 2020. While Vasilevskiy could take a portion of the blame on the first two goals, this was a tough look for the Big Cat. His defense melted down in front of him again, but it was Vasilevskiy that kicked the puck on a Mikko Rantanen shot to the slot where Burakovsky was there to deposit the rebound. That made it 3-0, in just 13:52 of the first period.

The Lightning were outshot by the Avalanche, 11-4, and Colorado had a 22-8 shot attempt advantage. — Greg Wyshynski

Pouring it on

Andre Burakovsky has made it 3-0 in the first period, and the Avalanche have more goals than the Lightning do shots on goal. This could get out of hand soon. History isn’t on Tampa Bay’s side — the last team to win the Cup after facing a multi-goal deficit in both Game 1 and 2 of the Cup Final was the Kings in 2014 against the Rangers.

Avs add another

It didn’t take long for the Avalanche to extend their lead. Josh Manson scored a goal five minutes after Nichushkin to give Colorado a 2-0 lead. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Manson’s goal is the 15th by the Colorado defense this postseason which leads all teams. It also ties the most by defensemen in a single postseason in franchise history (15 in 2001).

Avs score first

Valeri Nichushkin opened the socring with a power play goal less than three minutes into the game to give Colorado a 1-0 lead.

Dearly beloved …

At least one bachelorette party is in the house for Game 2 … and they’re hoping for a win.

Stylin’ and profilin’

A who’s who of celebrities wished the Lightning luck before Game 2, including Tom Brady and the “Nature Boy” Ric Flair.

Fandom made formal

Jay, a fan attending Game 2 is clearly rooting for the Avalanche — just look at his custom blazer.

Watch party concert

As is their tradition, Avalanche fans sang along to Blink-182’s hit “All the Small Things” during Game 1. The song made another appearance at the watch party Saturday.

Player arrivals

Colorado players arrive at the Ball Arena looking to go up 2-0 on the defending champs.

Tampa Bay players make their way into the building hoping to even the series at a game apiece

This article was originally published by Espn.com. Read the original article here.
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