The Tampa Bay Lightning are back in the Stanley Cup Finals for the third consecutive season. But can the red-hot Colorado Avalanche end the Lightning’s NHL reign?
The 2022 Finals begin on Wednesday, June 15, and we’re looking at what to expect in the best-of-seven series.
What channel is the Stanley Cup Finals on?
Every 2022 Stanley Cup Finals game will air on ABC and ESPN+. Spanish-language coverage will also be available on ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes for the entire best-of-seven series.
ABC is easily accessible on most cable, satellite, and live TV streaming services. But you can avoid signing up for a TV plan and access your local ABC affiliate with an over-the-air (OTA) HD antenna.
2022 Stanley Cup Finals schedule
The grand finale of the 2021–2022 NHL season begins on Wednesday, June 15. If the series reaches Game 7, the winner will lift the Cup on Tuesday, June 28.
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | English channels | Spanish channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | June 15, 2022 | 8:00 p.m. | ABC, ESPN+ | ESPN+ |
| Game 2 | June 18, 2022 | 8:00 p.m. | ABC, ESPN+ | ESPN+ |
| Game 3 | June 20, 2022 | 8:00 p.m. | ABC, ESPN+ | ESPN Deportes |
| Game 4 | June 22, 2022 | 8:00 p.m. | ABC, ESPN+ | ESPN Deportes |
| Game 5* | June 24, 2022 | 8:00 p.m. | ABC, ESPN+ | ESPN Deportes |
| Game 6* | June 26, 2022 | 8:00 p.m. | ABC, ESPN+ | ESPN+ |
| Game 7* | June 28, 2022 | 8:00 p.m. | ABC, ESPN+ | ESPN+ |
*If necessary.
Pro tip: Once the Finals are over, prepare for the next season by visiting our How to Watch the NHL Draft guide. Nashville hosts the draft, which begins Wednesday, June 28.
2022 Stanley Cup Finals: previous encounters
The Tampa Bay Lightning and the Colorado Avalanche have never met in an NHL playoff series until now. Including Colorado’s time as the Quebec Nordiques, the two sides have faced off only 49 times in the regular season. The historical odds favor the Avalanche, who hold a 25–21–3 all-time series record against the Lightning.
During this past season, the two sides met twice. Colorado won on both occasions—securing a 4–3 overtime victory in October and a 3–2 win in February. The two games prove the Avalanche can win home and away against the current Lightning squad. But it wasn’t for lack of trying on Tampa Bay’s behalf—highlighting the back-and-forth excitement we may see in the Finals.
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2022 Stanley Cup Finals: what to expect
The 2022 Stanley Cup Finals marks the fifth championship appearance for the Tampa Bay Lightning. It’s an impressive stat, given that four of those appearances came within the last eight years.
For the Colorado Avalanche, this is the team’s first Stanley Cup Final since 2001—making the opportunity all the more enticing for Avs fans.
The @TBLightning never clinched a #StanleyCup Final berth in the 1990s but have reached the championship series five times since the turn of the millennium.#NHLStats: https://t.co/IUztlNKKEu pic.twitter.com/k73GNiNoro
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 13, 2022
Like the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals, the Lightning have a lot of playoff experience on hand. Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, and Andrei Vasilevskiy will all be crucial to Tampa Bay’s continued success. But a speedy, possession-heavy Colorado side could be the Lightning’s most difficult playoff opponent yet.
The Avalanche have had an incredible playoff run thus far. They swept Nashville and Edmonton—sustaining only two losses against St. Louis.
If this momentum holds for Colorado, the team could easily be on its way to overcoming its silverware drought. It’ll just need players like Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, and Gabriel Landeskog to continue their top form for the Cup to come to Denver.
How to watch the Stanley Cup Finals FAQ
What date will the Stanley Cup Finals be played?
The 2023 Stanley Cup Finals will tentatively begin in early June after the NHL regular season ends on Thursday, April 13.
Can I watch the Stanley Cup Finals without cable?
Yes, you can watch the Stanley Cup Finals without cable by signing up for any live TV streaming service that carries TNT.
Will ESPN+ have the Stanley Cup Finals?
No, the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals will not stream live on ESPN+. While the streaming service carried the 2022 championship series, this year’s games will air on TNT instead.
Taylor Kujawa is a sports and entertainment fanatic who loves using his industry expertise to help keep you informed about your favorite leagues. With a bachelor’s degree in video production and over five years of writing experience, Taylor brings a wealth of digital media knowledge to CableTV.com. He’s also the co-founder and media producer at Her Football Hub, a UK-based web publication dedicated to women’s soccer football. Outside of work, you can usually find Taylor exploring nature or binge-watching the latest TV craze.
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