TAMPA — A key midseason showdown is coming up when the Colorado Avalanche take on the Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark International Arena on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET.
This matchup is a rematch of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, where Colorado triumphed in six games and celebrated their victory on Tampa’s ice. Both teams are performing strongly this season. The Avalanche are currently leading the NHL, while the Lightning are tied for second in the Eastern Conference, just behind the Detroit Red Wings.
Colorado is on fire, averaging four goals per game, which is the best in the league. Tampa Bay follows closely at 3.44 goals per game. On defense, the Avalanche also have the edge, allowing just 2.17 goals per game, while the Lightning sit at 2.66.
“We’re excited, for sure,” said Tampa Bay center Anthony Cirelli. “It’s a fun matchup against a strong team. It’s a great chance to test ourselves.”
The Avalanche have a stunning record of 31 wins, 3 losses, and 7 overtime losses at this point in the season, gathering 69 points. If they keep this momentum, they could finish with a remarkable 62 wins and 138 points, potentially breaking the single-season records set by the 2022-23 Boston Bruins, who had 65 wins and 135 points.
“I doubt they’ll reach our 62 wins,” joked Lightning coach Jon Cooper. “But they could easily smash the points record.”
Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon is leading the NHL with 35 goals and 74 points. Teammate Cale Makar, a defenseman, isn’t far behind with 47 points. The Avalanche recently faced a setback after a 2-1 loss to the defending champions, the Florida Panthers, snapping a 10-game winning streak.
“They’re incredibly talented,” Tampa Bay’s Brayden Point commented. “We need to be smart with the puck because they can capitalize on any mistakes.”
The Lightning have rallied despite a rocky start (1-4-2) and numerous injuries. Only three players have participated in all 41 games so far. Key players like Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh have missed significant time, but McDonagh is expected back soon.
“We’ve had a ‘next-man-up’ mentality,” Cirelli said. “Everyone is stepping up to fill gaps.”
Coach Cooper added, “There’s a lot of belief in what we’re doing. The veterans are well-integrated with the new guys, creating a strong atmosphere.”
Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov is making waves too, ranking fourth in the NHL with 59 points. He was named the NHL’s first star of the week for the second consecutive time after an impressive run in California.
Interestingly, the Lightning have already experienced two seven-game win streaks this season. During a rough patch of 2-6-1, Cooper felt they were playing well but just weren’t getting the luck they needed.
In their last encounter, Colorado edged out Tampa Bay 3-2 in Denver back in November. Cooper recognized Colorado as the stronger team that day but emphasized that this game isn’t just about the score; it’s about performance.
“I’ll judge this game by how we compete,” he said. “Sometimes, you can play well and still lose due to factors like great goaltending.”
The anticipation builds for this game, not just for the stakes but for the high level of hockey expected from both teams.
