NHL-leading Avalanche, red-hot Lightning brace for midseason showdown
NHL.com••sports
Key Points:
- The Colorado Avalanche will face the Tampa Bay Lightning in a highly anticipated midseason NHL matchup, revisiting their 2022 Stanley Cup Final clash won by Colorado in six games.
- The Avalanche lead the NHL in both offense and defense, with top players Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar leading in goals and points, while the Lightning are tied for second in the Eastern Conference despite significant injuries.
- Colorado is on pace to challenge NHL single-season records with a 31-3-7 start, potentially finishing with 62 wins and 138 points, while Tampa Bay has relied on depth and a "next-man-up" mentality amid key absences.
- Lightning coach Jon Cooper emphasizes measuring success by team performance rather than just
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