The Colorado Avalanche defeated the two-time defending champions to retake the top spot in hockey.
The Avalanche captured the Stanley Cup for the third time in the history of the team thanks to a goal and an assist from Nathan MacKinnon.
This core group, which is comprised of MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, the team's captain, Mikko Rantanen, and Cale Makar, has finally won a championship after years of playoff failure.
After being eliminated in the first round in 2018, the Avalanche lost in the second round in each of the following three seasons.
The Avs made a breakthrough this time thanks to a combination of pace, elite talent, and the knowledge learned from earlier setbacks. It wasn't simple, as the Avalanche fully anticipated.
Thanks in large part to dependable coach Jared Bednar, who in his sixth season managed to focus his squad on the goal, that heritage now includes a title.