Nathan MacKinnon wouldn’t have it any other way.
He and the Avalanche have never made it past the second round in recent years.
Now that they’ve reached the Stanley Cup Finals, they must beat the Tampa Bay Lightning, the two-time defending champions.
Game 1 is Wednesday night in Colorado.
“I’m glad we’re playing Tampa,” MacKinnon said. I’m really excited about the challenge. It’s going to be very very difficult, but I believe in this group and we all believe in each other. »
Colorado is the favorite but must beat an opponent who has won 11 consecutive playoffs.
Having become the NHL benchmark for success in the salary cap era, the Lightning could be the first to triumph three years in a row since the Islanders were champions four years in a row, starting in 1980.
MacKinnon is trying to follow the example of another athlete from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, Sidney Crosby. He earned his first cup in 2009 when the Penguins beat the Red Wings, the 2008 champions.
The Lightning are the first team since Wayne Gretzky’s Oilers from 1983-85 to reach the Finals three years in a row.
“They’ve been the best for a while. We have the opportunity to knock them off the pedestal,” Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar said.
“We are trying to start something special, and they want to become a dynasty. Couldn’t ask for a better scenario. »
The Lightning overcame a 3-2 deficit against the Leafs in the first round, then 2-0 against the Rangers in the Eastern Final.
In the first round, the club fell behind in the third period of Game 7 in Toronto before winning.
The Lightning sealed the win over the Maple Leafs by missing No. 1 center Brayden Point, who suffered a right leg injury earlier in Game 7. Point also missed the next two rounds.
If Point returned to play as scheduled on Wednesday, Tampa Bay would have a full squad.
“Nothing’s guaranteed but it was nice to be with the team again,” said Point, who practiced with his team on Tuesday.
Colorado may be without injured forwards Nazem Kadri and Andrew Cogliano. Defender Samuel Girard will not play, having fractured his sternum in the second round.
The Tampa Bay core — Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, Nikita Kucherov, Ondrej Palat and Alex Killorn — are in the Finals for the fourth time since 2015.
The Lightning reached the East Final at least six times during that span.
“Our group is too good not to give ourselves the chance to aspire to the Stanley Cup,” said captain Stamkos.
“We had difficult passages, but we never panicked. We stick to what makes us successful. I’m proud of our efforts, and now here we are. »