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Sammi’s Daily: Avalanche Win Cup, Kucherov Lashes Out At Equipment Manager

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2 years ago

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Avalanche Lightning Kucherov

The 2021-22 NHL season has officially come to a close, as the Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of the Final at Amalie Arena. And from both teams, there were obviously polarizing reactions, from an unbelievably excited Erik Johnson to a very outraged Nikita Kucherov.

At one end, the Avalanche were jumping with joy, as Nate MacKinnon, Gabe Landeskog and more celebrated the moment they’ve waited for their entire careers for. At the other, the previous back-to-back champion Lightning looked gassed, broken and angered — particularly Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Kucherov’s reaction has caught the attention of many. After a non-icing call in the final seconds with the net empty, Kucherov rushed to the bench to get a replacement stick after breaking his. The equipment manager didn’t have a stick ready. So, the 29-year-old chucked off his gloves and threw them before storming off and giving up on the final 20 seconds as Victor Hedman took the puck back up ice for one last chance.

Video Credit: ESPN on ABC

Then, on the way to the locker room, Vasilevskiy picked up a helmet and smacked it against the wall, then smacked it once more before going down the tunnel.

And then, to top off the festivities, the Stanley Cup is already dented, after Nicolas Aube-Kubel lost an edge and took a spill while racing back with Lord Stanley for the on-ice team photo. It’s the first time such an incident has happened on the ice.

Here are all the latest NHL news and notes:

Capitals Links

  • Andre Burakovsky is the first member of the 2017-18 Cup-winning Washington Capitals to hoist the Stanley Cup for a second time since. (WHN)
  • Meanwhile, the former Capitals forward also broke his foot and thumb in the final two series — and still fought through everything to play. (WHN)
  • And, here are some Avalanche players that Washington should target in NHL Free Agency. (WHN)

NHL Links

Sammi’s Top Shelf Takes

  • It’s understandable that there are all kinds of emotions brewing in the playoffs, especially when icing is washed out in the final 20 seconds. However, it’s tough to excuse Kucherov giving up on the play — or throwing anything at an equipment manager. Also, Anthony Cirelli delivered a check from behind to the linesman that didn’t make that icing call. Just not a good way to end a series on Tampa’s part.
  • Shoutout to Nazem Kadri and his iconic statement after becoming the first Muslim-born player to hoist Lord Stanley: “For everyone who thought I was a liability in the playoffs, you can kiss my ass.” The Capitals need that kind of clutch player with grit and heart on their team. So, yes, they should go for him.
  • Cale Makar’s NHL resume now includes the Norris, Conn Smythe and Stanley Cup, and he also won the Hobey Baker three years ago. What a career and road this kid has had — and it’s still only just the beginning.
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