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Only the Penguins’ Cup clincher (8-0) over North Stars in 1991 marks a bigger Stanley Cup Final shutout deficit than what Avalanche did to Lightning in Game 2.

That Penguins team had six Hall of Famers, with Jaromir Jagr yet to come

The Colorado Avalanche take a 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final, winning Game 2 7-0 over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. With the series shifting to Tampa, the Avalanche have outscored the Lightning 11-3.

Valeri Nichushkin opened the scoring 2:54 into the game. He added another goal in the second period. Nichushkin has eight goals and five assists through 16 playoff games.

(Photo: Isaiah J. Downing / USA Today)

The Avalanche are two minutes away from a 2-0 advantage, but I’m just going to state the obvious here and remind everyone that the Lightning have been here before. They overcame a 2-0 deficit in the Eastern Conference Final and won four straight to eliminate the Rangers. Granted, what we just saw was unequivocally the Lightning’s worst performance to date in these playoffs – but if anyone could somehow come back from that, it’s them.

Cale Makar scores again, this time on the power play after taking a cross heck from Palat. The score is 7-0 Avs.

And it looks like Vasilevskiy staying in.

If Cale Makar is going to get involved, this series might be over already. Good gravy, what a performance by the Avalanche.

The Lightning body language will be notable over these final 17 minutes. That is a fiercely proud group, but champions also know when they don’t have what it takes.

And it looks as though Lightning doesn’t have what it will take against these Avalanche.

So, is it too early to begin wondering where the Avalanche run would rate among modern single-postseason efforts?

Cannot imagine, coming off three tough series in the East, what seeing this type of relentless speed while playing in high altitude is like for the Lightning.

That’s not offering an excuse for the Lightning.

But facts are facts, and the Avalanche exploit a built-in advantage — that famous mile-high thin air — with a roster that attacks with speed and skill in waves. And with a defense corps adept at moving the puck quickly and accurately, the Avalanche forwards have possession so much. It’s tough to envision Lightning winning a game in Denver unless the goalie stands on his head. And he’s doing that despite giving up nine goals in six periods

We are five periods and a short over time into this Stanley Cup Final and the Lightning have registered only 35 total shots on Colorado’s Darcy Kuemper. For context, the Avs had 38 shots on goal in Game 1, alone.

Thus far, Tampa is being outshot 61-35 and outscored 9-3.