Avalanche bury Lightning 7-0; take 2-0 lead in Stanley Cup Final

After a thrilling 4-3 overtime win over the Lightning in Game 1 on Wednesday, the Avalanche put Game 2 away early. 

Five Avalanche players tallied goals on Saturday night, led by two goals apiece from Valeri Nichushkin and Cale Makar. 

Josh Manson, Andre Burakovsky, and Darren Helm also scored for the Avalanche. 

Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper made 16 saves earning the shutout between the pipes. 

On the other end of the ice, Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy struggled, making just 23 saves off 30 Colorado shots. 

The Avalanche took the lead less than three minutes into Game 2 when Nichushkin notched a powerplay goal at 2:54 of the first period. Manson and Burakovsky increased the Avalanche lead before the end of the period, scoring at 7:55 and 13:52, giving Colorado a 3-0 advantage heading into the second period. 

Less than five minutes into the second period, Nichushkin lit the lamp at 4:51 for his second goal of the night. 

Helm scored late in the second (16:26), putting the Avalanche up 5-0 at intermission.

The Avalanche's domination continued in the third period, highlighted by two goals from Makar. Early in the third, Makar scored shorthanded at 2:07 before closing Game 2 with a powerplay goal at 9:49. 

The Stanley Cup Finals continue on Monday with Game 3 in Tampa Bay at 8 p.m. ET.