How many Stanley Cups have the Colorado Avalanche won?
The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Tampa Bay Lightening in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals, bringing Colorado a title for the first time in over 20 years.
The Colorado Avalanche are champions of the NHL for the first time in two decades! The Avalanche will add this year’s Stanley Cup to their trophy case that has been stuck on two since 2001.
Avs dethrone the Lightening
The Avs didn’t have a ton of experience in the finals, but what they do have is an impeccable record. They are yet to lose a Stanley Cup final, winning it all in each of their three trips to the Finals.
The early favorites to win it all, getting the nod almost as soon as Tampa Bay won last year’s final, Colorado have shown a dominance in the Western Conference finals that is to be admired.
The Avalanche have scored at least three goals in all but three of their 19 matches, tying them for first place in playoff goals with Edmonton. During the Western Conference finals, they swept the Oilers in four straight, outscoring them 22-13 in the process.
26-year-old Nathan MacKinnon scored 32 over 65 regular season games, and has been the heart and soul of their attack in the post season with 13 goals and 10 assists . Cale Makar, Mikko Rantanen, and Gabriel Landeskog can all put up similar numbers and have seen this Colorado team through the toughest challenges unscathed.
1996 Stanley Cup Final: Avalanche 4, Panthers 0
In the first season after relocating from Quebec City, the Avalanche made it to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time, squaring off with fellow debutantes the Florida Panthers, in the first finals since the formation of the NHL that two teams would make their first finals appearance together.
The Panthers had made it to the finals on the back of their defending, with special praise for their goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck. But Colorado’s attack was simply overpowering and they managed to score 11 goals in the first two matches on Florida. By the time the Panthers defense caught their breath, they were two games down, and despite a thrilling three-overtime Game 4, the Avalanche walked away with their first Stanley Cup in their first appearance.
2001 Stanley Cup Final: Avalanche 4, Devils 3
With one under their belt, the Avs made another appearance in the finals just five years later when they faced off with the New Jersey Devils in another defensive showcase. Both teams were the number one seed in their respective conferences and the contest swung back and forth, with Colorado taking games 1, 3, 6 and 7 to take home the cup.
With living legend Ray Bourque getting his first Stanley Cup after an amazing 20-year career, Colorado captain Joe Sakic decided to set another mark for the history books, being the first and only captain to forego being the first player to lift the Stanley Cup, electing instead to give that honor to Bourque.