How many times have the Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup?

The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning will once again try to stave off elimination without key player Brayden Point.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper said Point skated on Sunday prior to Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Colorado Avalanche but also mentioned he does not plan on changing his lineup, meaning Point will miss a fourth straight game.

The Avalanche lead the series 3-2 and are one victory away from winning their first Stanley Cup since 2001. “It’s unfortunate because it’s a severe injury,” Cooper said. “At this time of the year, everybody’s trying to get back into the lineup and just there are some things you can’t do”.

If Tampa can defend home ice on Sunday and force a Game 7, however, Cooper did not rule out Point returning for Tuesday in Denver.

“He’s still plugging along here and rehabbing and trying to get better. Who knows? If the series goes one more game, you never know,” Cooper said. “It’s tough on these guys because they’re such competitors.”

Colorado out to end 21-year Stanley Cup wait

While the Avalanche are chasing their first Stanley Cup triumph in just over two decades - the last of their two titles came back in 2001.

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.