Avalanche Beat Lightning in OT to Open Stanley Cup Final

Colorado Avalanche left wing J.T. Compher (L) celebrates next to Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (R) after an overtime goal by Andre Burakovsky in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Denver on June 15, 2022. John Locher/AP Photo

DENVER—Facing the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning put the Colorado Avalanche at a sizeable experience disadvantage going into the Stanley Cup Final.

When the puck dropped, the Avalanche showed they could use their speed to offset Tampa Bay’s players who have been here, done that. And it doesn’t hurt to have a guy who also hoisted the Cup.