Tampa Bay Hosts Colorado In A Rematch Of The 2022 Stanley Cup Final. The Avalanche are visiting Tampa for the first time since winning the Stanley Cup there in Game 6 of the 2022 Cup Final. Including last season’s Cup Final, Colorado has won four of their last five road games against the Lightning.
Colorado Avalanche at Tampa Bay Lightning – Thursday, 7 ET on ESPN
Tampa Bay enters this contest off a 4-3 overtime loss at home to San Jose on Tuesday. The Lightning are 0-1-1 in two games since the All-Star break (they also lost at Florida on Monday). The Lightning have yet to go three games without a win so far in 2022-23.
While the Lightning did not get the win on Tuesday, they did earn a point in the standings for the 13th consecutive home game. Tampa Bay has not had a regulation loss at home since December 6 versus Detroit. Overall this season, only Boston has a better home record than Tampa Bay.
Right wing Nikita Kucherov is currently third in the league in points with 75, with only the Oilers’ duo of Connor McDavid (93) and Leon Draisaitl (76) ahead of him. He enters this contest on an eight-game point streak, his second-longest point streak of the season (had points in 11 straight games from Oct. 15-Nov. 8), during which he has recorded 13 points (3 G, 10 A).
Colorado Making A Playoff Push
The Avalanche have moved into a playoff spot thanks to some solid play over the last month. Since January 14, Colorado has gone 7-1-1. Their .833 points percentage in that time frame is third-best in the NHL behind only Carolina (8-0-1, .944) and Edmonton (6-0-1, .929).
Right wing Mikko Rantanen currently leads the Avalanche in both goals (34) and points (61) this season. His 34 goals thus far are two shy of his career high of 36, set last season. However, he has found goals hard to come back against Tampa Bay historically. He has three goals in nine career regular season games against the Lightning and had zero goals in six games during the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.
I think the Lightning get back on track tonight at home and win the game 5-2. More on this game and lots of other sports news on the Shemon and Sheppard Show 2-6pm.
Miami Dolphins Fans want Dalvin Cook
The NFL offseason is here for 30 of the 32 franchises. Every fan base outside of Philadelphia and Kansas City are looking at potential moves that can improve their team. The Miami Dolphins fan base falls squarely on this list. The fanbase seems sold on head coach Mike McDaniel. They love the Vic Fangio hiring for defensive coordinator. And if you ask a fins fan, Miami boasts 2 of the top-10 wide receivers in the sport. One seemingly weak spot in the roster for Miami is running back. Looking ahead to the 2023 roster, and Miami is in need of a running back. And Miami Dolphins fans want Dalvin Cook. The Dolphins do not have a tailback under contract for the 2023 season with Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson unrestricted free agents and Salvon Ahmed a restricted free agent.
Former Dolphins coach Brian Flores has been hired on as the Vikings defensive coordinator which got people thinking about a potential trade as Miami Dolphins fans want Dalvin Cook. Minnesota needs help on defense. Miami and CB Byron Jones seem to have an icy relationship. Jones didn't play in 2022 with an injury. It seems like there is a need for both teams to want to bring Dalvin Cook to Miami and Jones to the Vikings. If not Byron, then I'm sure Xavien Howard would be more enticing for Minnesota. But one thing is very clear: Miami Dolphins fans want Dalvin Cook. Cook is from Miami. He played his high school football at Miami Central. A homecoming would send Dolphins fans into a frenzy.
