The Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lighting are scheduled for a rematch in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final tonight at Ball Arena. The current status and changes of these two clubs have been shocking since the fateful series three Aprils ago. Can Colorado pull out a win despite being down six forwards? Or will Nikita Kucherov and the Lightning seek revenge?

Colorado avalanche

These previews are repetitive and in the worst possible way. I have more injuries to discuss, and it looks like these injuries will force the Avs to go 11-7 and potentially freeze a defenseman at forward tonight. Ross Colton was placed on IR after taking a puck on his foot and, for most Avs fans, did not return unannounced against the Blackhawks. Miles Wood also picked up an injury that evening and is “fit for everyday use” for today’s game, but a no-go.

We’ll get our first look at Kaapo Kahkonen tonight, who is certainly excited to serve as the backstop for the league’s most injured team. It’s a tough challenge, but if he’s up to the task, he could provide more answers in net for the Avalanche, who seem unable to claim their true starter.

Mikko Rantanen, Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon will be used heavily tonight and that could bode well for the Avs or prepare them for another addition to the injured list. Tonight is win or lose, but for heaven’s sake stay safe.

Planned lineup:

Nikolai Kovalenko — Nathan MacKinnon — Mikko Rantanen
Ivan Ivan — Casey Mittelstadt — Logan O’Connor
TJ Tynan — Parker Kelly — Joel Kiviranta
Chris Wagner — Matthew Stienburg — Oliver Kylington

Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Samuel Girard — Josh Manson
Calvin de Haan — Sam Malinski

Note: Oliver Kylington as a striker is not a typo. I doubt he plays for more than 4-5 minutes tonight.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa has seen a changing of the guard with the departure of its beloved and long-time captain Steven Stamkos. Tampa management essentially chose Jake Guenztel over Stamkos, a move that has angered some Lightning fans. The team is still “hanging around,” as Evan Liu put it in this week’s Mile High Hockey Lab. They still have Nikita Kucherov, and while they’re still tinkering with Guenztel’s fit, he will inevitably make them a better team. Can they be better than when they had Stammer? We’ll see. Tonight, keep an eye on the ever-dangerous Brayden Point, who has scored four goals in Tampa’s last five games.

Planned lineup:

Jake Guentzel — Brayden Point — Nikita Kucherov
Brandon Hail — Anthony Cirelli — Conor Geekie
Michael Eyssimont — Nicholas Paul — Mitchell Chaffee
Zemgus Girgensons — Luke Glendening — Cam Atkinson

Victor Hedman — JJ Moser
Ryan McDonagh — Erik Cernak
Emil Lilleberg — Nick Perbix

goalkeeper

The Avalanche could get a break tonight when the Lightning go with former Avalanche member Jonas Johansson in place of Andrei Vaslevski. That’s possible given Vassy’s many starts and Colorado’s struggling forward group. Currently, Vassy is the unconfirmed starter.

As mentioned, it will be Kaapo Kahokenen for the Avalanche. Maybe Kaapo can start his time in Denver with a stolen win!