NHL 2022-23 - Day 1

The offseason's officially over, and the regular season of NHL is here. Once again, I'll give it a go to recap every game, though this is fair warning that that may not be sustainable for the whole year. We'll see how it goes. We begin with the first of two games in Prague, as the Nashville Predators are designated to host the San Jose Sharks. James Reimer and Juuse Saros start in goal. Nashville opened in the first period with a Kiefer Sherwood goal, via Mattias Ekholm and Ryan McDonagh. San Jose tied it on a Tomas Hertl goal, assisted by Timo Meier and Luke Kunin. The Predators retook the lead in the second period with an Eeli Tolvanen goal, courtesy of Cole Smith and Cody Glass. Nashville added on with a Nino Niederreiter goal, passed from Dante Fabbro and Sherwood. The Predators iced it at 4-1 in the third period with a Matt Duchene empty net goal, set up by Mikael Granlund and Filip Forsberg. The three stars were Sherwood, Saros (30 for 31 in saves), and Tolvanen. 

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2022 Stanley Cup Finals - Game 6

We're back for another game, the last in Tampa Bay, as the Lightning welcome the Colorado Avalanche. Darcy Kuemper and Andrei Vasilevskiy are the masked men. Tampa Bay kicked off the scoring in the first period with a Steven Stamkos goal, his eleventh of the postseason, via Ondrej Palat. Colorado tied it on a Nathan MacKinnon goal, his thirteenth of the playoffs, guided in by Bowen Byram and Gabriel Landeskog. The Avalanche took the lead with an Artturi Lehkonen goal, his eighth of the postseason, made possible by MacKinnon and Josh Manson. This stood for a 2-1 win, with the three stars going to MacKinnon, Kuemper (22 for 23 in saves), and Lehkonen. The Avalanche won the Stanley Cup with a 4-2 series win, and Cale Makar was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the playoff MVP. 

With that, another season is done. This site will go quiet for now, and once again, I'll make a decision on continuing for another year before next season. As always, follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

2022 Stanley Cup Finals - Game 5

We're back in Denver for Game 5, with the Colorado Avalanche hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy and Darcy Kuemper are between the pipes. Tampa Bay struck first in the first period with a Jan Rutta goal, assisted by Corey Perry and Mikhail Sergachev. Colorado tied it in the second period with a Valeri Nichushkin goal, his ninth of the postseason, coming off of Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon. The Lightning retook the lead with a Nikita Kucherov power play goal, his eighth of the playoffs, powered by Steven Stamkos and Perry. The Avalanche tied it in the third period with a Makar goal, his eighth of the postseason, via Devon Toews and Nichushkin. Tampa Bay took the lead back with an Ondrej Palat goal, his eleventh of the playoffs, guided in by Victor Hedman and Sergachev. The final held at 3-2, with the three stars being Makar, Perry, and Sergachev, while Nichushkin gets an honorable mention. The Avalanche hold a 3-2 series lead, but they'll be heading back to Tampa for Game 6. 

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2022 Stanley Cup Finals - Game 4

In Tampa Bay again, the Lightning host the Colorado Avalanche. Darcy Kuemper and Andrei Vasilevskiy are the masked men. Tampa Bay led off in the first period with an Anthony Cirelli goal, his third of the postseason, coming off of Erik Cernak. Colorado tied it on a Nathan MacKinnon power play goal in the second period, his twelfth of the playoffs, powered by Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar. The Lightning retook the lead with a Victor Hedman goal, his third of the postseason, via Jan Rutta. The Avalanche tied it in the third period with an Andrew Cogliano goal, his third of the playoffs, guided in by Nico Sturm and Darren Helm. Colorado won 3-2 in overtime with a Nazem Kadri goal, his seventh of the postseason, assisted by Artturi Lehkonen and Kuemper. The three stars were Kadri, Cogliano, and MacKinnon. The Avalanche lead the series 3-1 and will get three chances to win the Stanley Cup. 

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2022 Stanley Cup Finals - Game 3

The Stanley Cup shifts to Tampa Bay, as the Lightning host the Colorado Avalanche. Darcy Kuemper and Andrei Vasilevskiy guard the cages. Colorado led off in the first period with a Gabriel Landeskog power play goal, his tenth of the postseason, powered by Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar. Tampa Bay tied it on an Anthony Cirelli goal, his second of the playoffs, coming off of Pat Maroon. The Lightning took the lead with an Ondrej Palat goal, his tenth of the postseason, via Steven Stamkos. Tampa Bay added on in the second period with a Nick Paul goal, his fifth of the playoffs, guided in by Ross Colton. The Avalanche pulled one back with another Landeskog power play goal, his second of the game and eleventh of the postseason, with assists provided by Makar and Rantanen. The Lightning fired back with a Stamkos goal, his tenth of the playoffs, courtesy of Nikita Kucherov and Zach Bogosian. Tampa Bay extended the lead as Maroon scored his fourth of the postseason, thanks to Kucherov and Victor Hedman. The Lightning padded the lead on a Corey Perry power play goal, his sixth of the playoffs, made possible by Palat and Hedman. The final held at 6-2, with the three stars going to Stamkos, Palat, and Landeskog, while Maroon, Kucherov, Hedman, Makar, and Rantanen get the honorable mentions. The Avalanche remain ahead 2-1 in the series. 

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2022 Stanley Cup Finals - Game 2

The Colorado Avalanche again host the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 2. Andrei Vasilevskiy and Darcy Kuemper man the nets. Colorado started in the first period with a Valeri Nichushkin power play goal, his seventh of the postseason, powered by Andre Burakovsky and Alex Newhook. The Avalanche added on with a Josh Manson goal, his third of the playoffs, guided in by Andrew Cogliano and Newhook. Colorado extended the lead as Burakovsky scored his third of the postseason, thanks to Mikko Rantanen and Devon Toews. The Avalanche padded the lead in the second period on another Nichushkin goal, his second of the game and eighth of the playoffs, fueled by Rantanen. Colorado continued with a Darren Helm goal, his second of the postseason, helped along by Logan O'Connor. The Avalanche kept going in the third period with a shorthanded Cale Makar goal, his sixth of the playoffs, set up by Cogliano. Colorado struck again with a Makar power play goal, his second of the game and seventh of the postseason, with assists provided by Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon. This stood for a 7-0 win, with the three stars awarded to Makar, Nichushkin, and Rantanen, while Burakovsky, Cogliano, Newhook, and Kuemper (17 save shutout) receive the honorable mentions. The Avalanche took care of business at home to go up 2-0 in the series. 

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2022 Stanley Cup Finals - Game 1

The final series of the playoffs has arrived. The Colorado Avalanche host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy and Darcy Kuemper guard the cages. Colorado opened in the first period with a Gabriel Landeskog, goal, his ninth of the postseason, via Mikko Rantanen and Bowen Byram. The Avalanche added on with a Valeri Nichushkin goal, his sixth of the playoffs, courtesy of Nathan MacKinnon. Tampa Bay got on the board with a Nick Paul goal, his fourth of the postseason, assisted by Victor Hedman and Brayden Point. Colorado replied with an Artturi Lehkonen power play goal, his seventh of the playoffs, powered by Rantanen and Landeskog. The Lightning got one back in the second period with an Ondrej Palat goal, his ninth of the postseason, helped along by Nikita Kucherov and Ryan McDonagh. Tampa Bay tied it on a Mikhail Sergachev goal, his second of the playoffs, fueled by Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli. The Avalanche won in overtime with an Andre Burakovsky goal, his second of the postseason, guided in by Nichushkin and J.T. Compher. The three stars of the 4-3 game were Nichushkin, Rantanen, and Landeskog. The Avalanche lead the series 1-0. 

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