Tag: 2022 Stanley Cup Final

A dominant Avalanche Stanley Cup run spurred three-fold increase in Colorado public betting

The Colorado Division of Gaming reported nearly $100 million in wagers.

One benefit of legal sports betting is the boost it can provide to a local economy, and a great example of that is the money that rolled into Colorado as the Avalanche skated their way to the Stanley Cup.

The Colorado Division of Gaming reported nearly $97 million in wagers on the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year, according to a report by KKTV 11 News in Colorado Springs, more than tripling the amount of hockey bets it received in the same period in 2021.

Colorado bettors wagered about $30 million on the Stanley Cup Final alone, eclipsing the $26 million wagered in all of May and June 2021 combined. The public apparently wasn’t fazed by the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning.

“When you look at where the standard was and then you look at where they are this year, going almost three times as much, you really can tell that Colorado really got excited about the Avalanche going for the Cup and being in the finals,” Division of Gaming director Dan Hartman said

Sports betting was legalized in Colorado in 2019, with the first licensed operators hitting the market in May 2020.

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Listen to the wonderful Spanish play-by-play call of the Avalanche’s Stanley Cup winning moment

“La Avalancha de Colorado!”

The Colorado Avalanche have finally reached the summit and now stand alone at the top as Stanley Cup champions.

Sunday’s Stanley Cup victory for the Avalanche had everything. Cale Makar won his well-deserved Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP. Nazem Kadri called out his haters on the biggest stage with a tongue in cheek message. Oh, and the Stanley Cup got a couple bumps and bruises along the way as the Avalanche accidentally dented it a mere hour after receiving it.

If you want to revisit the Avalanche’s final moments, there’s no better way than by listening to the Spanish play-by-play call of the momentous occasion, called by none other than Kenneth Garay of ESPN!

I absolutely love that the Colorado Avalanche are called “La Avalancha de Colorado” in Spanish, by the way. What a great call that honestly tops ESPN’s regular broadcast for me in terms of sheer passion and enthusiasm.

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10 best moments from the thrilling 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs

The road to the Stanley Cup was a wild one this year.

It’s hard to believe the 2021-22 NHL season is over and the Stanley Cup has been awarded.

Sunday night saw the Colorado Avalanche hoist the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2001 in a triumphant celebration of sports joy. Sure, the Stanley Cup may have a few dents in it now, but hey it’s nothing the keeper of the Cup can’t fix, right?

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are the best part of a NHL season, no contest. And this year’s postseason may have been the best hockey’s had to offer in years, from the wild in-game swings to the pure talent level on display from the NHL’s finest.

Now that we’ve put yet another NHL season to rest, let’s take a look back at the 10 best moments from the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs that we’ll remember for years to come.

Back-to-back? Avalanche open as betting favorites to win 2023 Stanley Cup

Can Colorado steal the Lightning’s thunder?

The Colorado Avalanche had to knock off the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning to claim their first Stanley Cup title in 20 years, and now oddsmakers like their chances to become the next repeat champs. Colorado opened as the favorites to win the 2023 Stanley Cup at +425 odds.

Colorado’s odds are the shortest by far, with the Toronto Maple Leafs coming in second at +750 and the Florida Panthers third at +900. The runner-up Lightning are fourth at +1000, giving the Eastern Conference a significant edge in claiming next year’s title. There’s a three-way tie for the fifth-shortest odds at +1500 between the Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights.

2023 Stanley Cup Title Odds

Vegas is the only non-playoff team this year with top-10 odds to win next year’s Stanley Cup.

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Nazem Kadri told his critics to ‘kiss my [expletive]’ after Avalanche won the Stanley Cup

Kadri is on top of the world right now.

Any time a team like the Avalanche — a squad that’s been on the brink of glory for years — wins the Stanley Cup, there will be more than a few stories of vindication. Usually, these stories fall into a few camps.

There are the young, great players getting what will probably be the first of many flowers. There are the established, consistent veterans who have been waiting for their moment of hockey ecstasy for years. And then there are those talented guys who people have unfairly maligned throughout their careers.

In this case: that’s Colorado’s Nazem Kadri. While he eventually got to hoist the Cup, it was a challenging postseason for the 31-year-old center (on top of an already challenging career).

Kadri first notably got into it with Jordan Binnington, who threw a water bottle at the forward during the second round of the playoffs. Kadri then drew unwarranted ire from the Blues, which had him respond quite well in kind.

Later, in the Western Conference Finals, Kadri was injured by a dangerous hit from Evander Kane. That injury meant we wouldn’t see Kadri play in the Stanley Cup Final, where he played hero for the Avs.

With all of that chaos behind him, Kadri had some strong thoughts for any of his critics as he sat on top of the NHL’s mountain for the first time:

Note: NSFW language is used in the video below. 

Whoa, hey, Nazem, there might be kids watching! On the other hand: Is he wrong? Has he not earned it? Ah, heck. Carry on, my man!

Fans on hockey Twitter loved Kadri’s refreshing comment toward all of his haters as he celebrated his first Stanley Cup.

Lightning’s Corey Perry lost his third straight Stanley Cup Final and NHL fans roasted the notorious villain

Perry completed a three-peat … of Stanley Cup Final losses.

With their defeat to the Colorado Avalanche and Cale Makar in the Stanley Cup Final, it’s understandable if the Tampa Bay Lightning are feeling a bit of a painful sting. To come this far, to get this close, and to put in all that effort throughout a two-month postseason only to fall short of a three-peat is never easy to process on an emotional level.

It might be even harder to process for Corey Perry. The veteran winger joined the Lightning after losing to Tampa Bay in the previous two Stanley Cup Finals while with the Montreal Canadiens and Dallas Stars, respectively. He’s the first player in NHL history to lose in the Stanley Cup Final in three straight years with three different teams.

Under normal circumstances, people might feel more sympathy for Perry. But, thanks to a history of underhanded, dirty play throughout his 17-year career, the 37-year-old hasn’t made many friends. Perry might have his one Cup victory with the Ducks in 2007, but many NHL fans definitely don’t want to see him win one ever again.

Hockey Twitter celebrated Perry’s latest postseason demise accordingly.

The 13 best photos from the Colorado Avalanche’s Stanley Cup victory

A picturesque ending for the Avalanche!

The Colorado Avalanche have finally tasted sweet, sweet victory after 21 years.

On Sunday, the Avalanche bested the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions — the Tampa Bay Lightning — 2-1 in Game 6, winning the franchise’s third overall title. Artturi Lehkonen scored the game winner for the Avalanche after a frantic second period, then Colorado shut down the Lightning in majestic fashion in the third.

Avalanche fans — and players! — were overjoyed after the hard-fought victory. Cale Makar rightfully won the Conn Smythe trophy after posting 29 points in an absolutely lethal postseason. What more could you want from a Stanley Cup Final, really?

With the dust settling on the Avalanche’s incredible victory, here are the 13 best photos from Colorado’s celebrations.

Avalanche’s Cale Makar, the best player on the best team, was the only logical choice for Conn Smythe

The best player on the best team. The math here was easy.

The Avalanche beat the Lightning 2-1 to win the Stanley Cup on Sunday night, and their return to glory never would’ve happened if not for one man.

We’re talking about Colorado’s (-115) Norris Trophy defenseman and their inarguable best player. That same incomparable player who is now the official winner of the 2022 Conn Smythe Award (awarded annually to the NHL postseason MVP): the 23-year-old wunderkind blueliner, Cale Makar.

Here are some fun facts about Makar’s first Conn Smythe:

  • Makar becomes just the third defenseman in NHL history to win the Norris and the Conn Smythe in one season after the Bruins’ Bobby Orr (1970, 1972) and the Red Wings’ Nicklas Lidstrom (2002) previously managed the rare feat.
  • His 29 points are the fourth-highest ever by any defenseman during the postseason
  • Makar is the youngest defenseman to win the Conn Smythe in 52 years, with Orr first winning it at 22

Makar winning this year’s Conn Smythe should be no surprise to anyone who’s paid attention to Colorado’s exploits all year long. He was their catalyst when the Avalanche finished first in the Central Division and the Western Conference during the regular season. He was not only their premier shutdown man playing almost half of every game but their primary offensive initiator for a team that loves to get out and skate in transition.

When it came time for the Avalanche to make some memories in the postseason, it was business as usual for Makar — who continued his excellence seamlessly.

Colorado powered through a postseason slate of opponents that featured such stars as Roman Josi, Vladimir Tarasenko, Connor McDavid, and Nikita Kucherov, specifically because of Makar. Whenever the Avs needed an answer for any sort of play in his own end or as the de facto quarterback on offense, Makar was there in a pinch. Their forwards like Nathan MacKinnon and captain Gabriel Landeskog might get all the headlines, but it’s Makar who stirs the drink.

No team goes 16-4 throughout a postseason, especially one as chaotic as the NHL’s, without a budding all-time great on the blueliner. And that’s what Makar is — a budding all-time great.

The young defenseman got his first Norris Trophy and Conn Smythe this year. Given how his magnificent career has started, they almost certainly won’t be the last.

Here’s how NHL fans reacted to Makar’s historic, deserved Conn Smythe victory.

Joyous Avalanche fans celebrate Colorado’s triumphant Stanley Cup victory over Lightning

Sweet victory for the Avalanche!

The Colorado Avalanche are your 2022 Stanley Cup champions!

After weathering some frustrations from the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6, the Avalanche were victorious 2-1 on Sunday thanks to Artturi Lehkonen’s stunning game winner. This is the Avalanche’s third Stanley Cup in franchise history and their first since 2001, marking an emotional moment for a team that’s had its struggles getting past the second round over the years.

This has been a long time coming for the Avalanche and their fans. And what a series too this has been! Talk about a clash of the titans between the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions and one of the most dominant hockey teams of the most recent years.

Why a Blink-182 song might lead the Colorado Avalanche to another Stanley Cup

Here’s the final call as the Avalanche cemented their place in history.

And here’s some of the celebrations from Avalanche players and fans as they became champions!

Avalanche fans on social media were overjoyed after the well-deserved Stanley Cup victory!

Watch Artturi Lehkonen score the Stanley Cup-winning goal for the Avalanche

The Avalanche have done it!

Artturi Lehkonen is no stranger to important goals in his NHL career, but his biggest just won the Colorado Avalanche the Stanley Cup!

The Avalanche bested the back-to-back champions — the Tampa Bay Lightning — in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday night. A huge two-goal second period helped lift the Avalanche over the Lightning 2-1 by game’s end, with Nathan MacKinnon getting the 1-1 equalizer and then Lehkonen getting the follow up 10 minutes later for the game winner.

On a rush down the ice, Lehkonen snapped a quick shot that bested Andrei Vasilevskiy glove side, a shot that the veteran netminder had no chance of stopping with just how fast it came off the Avalanche forward’s stick.

The goal was also Lehkonen’s fourth game winner of these playoffs, leading the field of all players by the end of the postseason.

It took 20 more minutes for the Avalanche to close out their first Stanley Cup win since 2000, but here’s how the game ended for the new champions of the NHL.

What a moment for the Avalanche and what a goal from Lehkonen to bring Lord Stanley back to Colorado!

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