Practice equaled penalty-kill improvement for Avalanche in Game 1 win

Cale Makar (8) of the Colorado Avalanche controls the puck during the second period of Game 1 in the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Finals as the Colorado Avalanche play against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Ball Arena on Wednesday, June 15, 2022.The primary benefit for the Avalanche penalty-killing unit of having a week-plus worth of practices between the sweep of Edmonton and Wednesday’s Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals against Tampa Bay? It practiced against their own power play.

Sharp from start to finish, the Avalanche limited the Lightning to only three shots on goal over three power plays in a 4-3 overtime win.

“The guys were awesome,” goalie Darcy Kuemper said. “We’ve worked hard at it and guys…