The captain had a hard time catching up with the huge numbers for normally defensively strong Tampa, in addition to the double-reigning Stanley Cup champions.
- I mean, I did not see this coming, Stamkos continues according to AP.
Tampa Bay goalkeeper Andrei Vasilevsky made his 100th playoff game, but it turned out to be a memorable match for the wrong reason for the Russian star.
After the first period, he had conceded three goals, of which André Burakovsky (left in the second period with an injury) accounted for one and played beautifully until another.
It was the second match in a row that the Swede became the goal scorer, after deciding the first meeting in the final series in overtime.
Race in the last two matches
In the first 98 play-off matches, Vasilevsky had conceded a maximum of two goals in the first period.
Now he has conceded three in the last two matches.
Colorado became only the third team in NHL history to score at least three goals in the first period of the two opening finals.
- It was so close to a perfect match you can get from our players, says Colorado coach Jared Bednar.
Colorado reached a level that fans could only have dreamed of.
They shouted, "We want the dent!"
Something you have been longing for since the last title in 2001.
- It was a little crazy out there.
Obviously we got opportunities and the guys were there and could implement it as well so it was nice to see, says Cale Makar.
Tampa Bay now has the odds against it when the NHL Finals Series moves to Florida.
In 90.4 percent of the times a team has won the first two matches in the best of seven, they have also taken home the dent.