Avalanche beat Lightning 2-1 to win Stanley Cup: Game 6 live blog

DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche won their first Stanley Cup in 21 years, beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 Sunday in Game 6 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla.

The Avs lost 3-2 in a heartbreaker in Denver on Friday night and are now 16-4 in the playoffs after their win Sunday night.

MORE: Photos: Avalanche and Lightning square off in Game 6 of 2022 Stanley Cup Final

Denver7 is the home of the Stanley Cup Final throughout the playoffs, and we'll have pre-game and postgame coverage after each game of the series, which you can watch on Denver7 or on the free Denver7+ streaming app, which is also embedded below.

We have a full slate of coverage on the series, what fans need to know and plenty more about the Avalanche and their past Stanley Cup winning teams on our Avalanche Stanley Cup page.

Below, we'll be posting live updates from the game and from our reporters across Tampa and Denver as the Avs try to clinch the Stanley Cup. (All times Mountain. Refresh the page for the latest updates.)

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11:54 p.m.
GOOD NIGHT, Avs faithful! Hope somebody gets some sleep tonight!

You can catch up on Denver7's full coverage of the Avalanche's Stanley Cup win overnight on the Denver7+ streaming app, with more to come starting at 4:30 a.m. That is streaming in the player embedded below.

11:03 p.m.
We talked after the big win with Erik Johnson, Nathan MacKinnon, Jared Bednar, Nazem Kadri and Joe Sakic. Watch the interviews in below.

10:24 p.m.
Our live coverage of the Avs' Stanley Cup victory continues on Denver7 and the Denver7+ streaming app. We're also getting a look at the Avs' fans' elation after the big win.

9:48 p.m.
We're now live with all our postgame coverage. Watch live on Denver7, in the free streaming Denver7+ app, or in the player embedded below. Our story on Cale Makar's Conn Smythe Trophy win is also posted.

9:39 p.m.
Hundreds of Avalanche fans are now celebrating across downtown Denver. Open the Denver7+ app to watch live, with postgame coverage starting shortly.

9:15 p.m.
Get ready to celebrate, Avs fans! The Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup Championship Celebration is scheduled for Thursday, June 30.

The celebration will include a parade through downtown and a championship rally at Civic Center Park. Both will be free and open to the public, according to a release from the City and County of Denver.

Click here to read more.
9:10 p.m.
The Avs are Stanley Cup Champions for the third time in franchise history! Catch postgame coverage on Denver7 and read the full recap of tonight's win by clicking here.
9:09 p.m.
Cale Makar is the 2022 Conn Smythe Trophy winner for the MVP of the playoffs!! He’ll add it to the trophy case along with his Norris Trophy.

8:49 p.m.
STANLEY CUP CHAMPS!! The Avalanche win their first Stanley Cup since 2001 and their third and franchise history!!!!

8:48 p.m.
Tampa Bay screaming about too many men again after Landy loses a skate blade. We've got 1:15 left in the third period.
8:46 p.m.
Vasilevskiy is out of the net.
8:45 p.m.
Under 3:30 remaining in regulation and we don't think anyone in Colorado is currently breathing.
8:40 p.m.
Nerves, nerves, nerves.... under 6 minutes to go in the third after a huge save by Kuemper. 2-1 Avs.
8:35 p.m.
We have 8:13 left in the third period and the Lightning have one shot on goal so far this period.
8:29 p.m.
Eleven minutes left in the third, let's check in on everyone.

8:25 p.m.
Several more scoring chances for the Avs but nothing in the yet. The Lightning have not had a shot on goal through the first eight minutes of the third period. 11:20 left in the third.
8:17 p.m.
Vasilevskiy has a heck of a kick save on a shot from Nichushkin, and Kadri missed the net on a breakaway. 2-1 Avs with 16:02 left in the third.
8:12 p.m.
20 MINUTES TO GO, AVS FANS!
8:07 p.m.
During an intermission interview, MacKinnon says there will be "no emotion" in the third period in a deadpan. Man's locked in.
7:57 p.m.
The Avs head to the locker room for the second intermission with a 2-1 lead and are 20 minutes away from winning their first Stanley Cup since 2001.
7:50 p.m.
The Avs get two shots on goal during the power play but not one in the net. The Lightning block a Cogliano shot from out front just after it ends. 2-1 Avs with 2:30 left in the second.
7:44 p.m.
The Avs will get their first power play of the night after Ryan McDonagh gets called for boarding on a check on Darren Helm. 5:07 left to go in the second.
7:37 p.m.
GOAL!! Lehkonen puts one in the back of the net off a pass from MacKinnon originally intended for Josh Manson that went off a Lightning player's skate. Pat Maroon breaks his stick trying to slash Manson after the goal. 2-1 Avs with 7:32 left in the second.
7:36 p.m.
The Avs get a good flurry of shots there, including one that hit the post.
7:33 p.m.
JT Compher catches a breakaway off a pass through the middle but Gabe Landeskog is narrowly offsides near the bench. 1-1 with 10:25 left in the second.
7:16 p.m.
NATE THE GREAT! MacKinnon ties it up with a one timer from Vasilevskiy's right side on a delayed penalty by Tampa Bay. It's MacKinnon's 13th goal of the playoffs — tied for the most among all players with Evander Kane. 18:06 left in the second.
7:13 p.m.
And we're underway in the second period in Tampa!
6:58 p.m.
We've got our first round of photos from tonight's Game 6 and will be updating this gallery through the evening. Click here for more.

AP Photo

AP Photo

6:45 p.m.
We head to the locker rooms for the first intermission with the Lightning leading 1-0. The Avs played a better back half of the period and had several good scoring chances saved by Vasilevskiy. Tampa Bay is outshooting Colorado 10-7 but the Avs have four giveaways to the Lightning's nine.
6:42 p.m.
Artturi Lehkonen hits the post with a shot right in front of Vasilevksiy. 4:15 left in the first period.
6:38 p.m.
Kadri catches a slow rolling puck right in front of the net but Vasilevskiy gets the save. 1-0 Tampa Bay with 5:20 left in the first.
6:34 p.m.
The teams go 7 1/2 minutes of play there without a whistle. The Lightning have looked strong to start the game but the avs are holding up after that first goal. 1-0 Lightning with 8:16 left in the first.
6:26 p.m.
Steven Stamkos catches the puck right in front of the net after it bounced off a skate and puts the puck in the back of the net. 1-0 Lightning 3:48 into the first.
6:24 p.m.
No shots on goal for Tampa Bay during the power play. Cogliano skates off without being able to put much weight on his left leg.
6:21 p.m.
The Lightning get a power play 23 seconds into the game after Cale Makar gets called for interference on a pass through the neutral zone.
6:20 p.m.
Here we go! Puck drops in Game 6 NOW!
5:58 p.m.
Val Nichushkin will play but Andre Burakovsky will not. Here are your Avs lines to start the evening.

5:49 p.m.
We're getting close, Avs fans!

5:43 p.m.
Nichushkin, Kadri and Landeskog all out on the ice for warm-ups, but no Burakovsky. He was expected to be a game-time decision.

5:22 p.m.
There are plenty of Avs fans in Tampa tonight!

5:21 p.m.
No Tivoli Quad watch party tonight after what happened Friday.