DENVER — Following an eight-day layoff, the Avalanche are set to finally begin the last chapter of the playoffs as they host the Tampa Bay Lightning for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Colorado is 12-2 through the first three rounds and enters the final on a five-game winning streak. The Lightning, who started the playoffs with a hard-fought seven-game series victory over Toronto, enter the final on a four-game winning streak and an 8-2 record in the previous two rounds.
Safe to say, this is the matchup many had hoped for as the Avs look to dethrone the two-time defending champions.
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Day to day
Avs coach Jared Bednar said after morning skate on Wednesday that both Nazem Kadri and Andrew Cogliano are considered day-to-day. Neither is expected to play in Game 1.
Kadri had surgery to repair a broken thumb on his right hand and skated without a stick before the rest of the team took the ice. Cogliano suffered a similar injury, reportedly to his ring finger, and had surgery after Colorado’s four-game sweep of the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference final.
It’s unclear if or when either forward will return.
Centers
Without Kadri, the Avs will likely have a different lineup than the one they used to start Game 4 against Edmonton. Colorado shifted winger Mikko Rantanen to center — a position he succeeded at earlier in the regular season. But as the game progressed, Rantanen found himself back on the wing with third-liner J.T. Compher being elevated to the top six.
In that scenario, the third-line center hole could be filled by Nico Sturm or by Darren Helm. But rookie Alex Newhook, a natural center, could also be an option. And Bednar said he’s comfortable with utilizing him as such if needed.
Andre Burakovsky
Forward Andre Burakovsky exited morning skate early but Bednar confirmed he will be available for Game 1. Burakovsky, like captain Gabriel Landeskog, has taken a number of maintenance days in recent weeks.
