Tampa Bay Lightning will lead the fourth Stanley Cup final 1-0 after the opening round.
Tampa Bay’s Anthony Cirelli (left) celebrated the opening finish of the fourth final. AOP
The Colorado Avalanche remained on the racks when the fourth final of the Stanley Cup began in Tampa Bay.
Finnish confirmations of Denver residents Mikko Rantanen and Artturi Lehkonen were in the trough as the starting disc dropped into the ice, and the hosts took the lead even before the first shift was over.
The game clock had only taken 35 seconds to Anthony Cirelli raven Avalanche mill Darcy Kuemperin under the beak of the puck backpack.
Lightning had already scored the last three goals in the previous game and now Cirelli has continued at the same pace. This is the first time in the final series that Bolts have scored the opening goal of the match.
Kuemper lost his helmet in the situation, but he bravely tried to fend off Cirell’s bet without a head cover. According to NHL rules, the referees must allow the game to continue even if the goalkeeper loses his mask if the opponent has an immediate goal.
The Avalanche management apparently knew this rule exception because it did not protest the hit.