NAZEM KADRI SCORES OVERTIME WINNER, AVALANCHE ONE WIN AWAY FROM STANLEY CUP GLORY

The Colorado Avalanche knew that getting Nazem Kadri back from injury would be important to their top-six forward group and that they needed to bounce back after a poor performance in Game 3 on Monday.

Tampa Bay got the scoring started early with Anthony Cirelli putting the Lightning up 1-0, 36 seconds into Game 4. On the initial shot from Erik Cernak, Darcy Kuemper's helmet came off, then Cirelli put home the rebound.

LIGHTNING-FAST START! ⚡️ #StanleyCup

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🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/GRXbmsc4B7 pic.twitter.com/fdhaYqtCFp— NHL (@NHL) June 23, 2022

Just over five minutes into the second period, Nathan MacKinnon redirects the puck off his skate, which then hits Andrei Vasilevskiy's skate and goes in the net for his first goal oft he Stanley Cup Final.

All tied up in Tampa! 👀 #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: ABC, @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/Yn0bJ26ESi
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/GRXbmsc4B7 pic.twitter.com/TfYCJizTsH— NHL (@NHL) June 23, 2022

Five minutes and twenty-five seconds later, the Lightning responded. Victor Hedman went all the way from his zone, threw the backhand on net and beat Darcy Kuemper under the blocker to give the Lightning a 2-1 lead.

Victor Hedman coming through! 😤 #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: ABC, @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/Yn0bJ26ESi
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/GRXbmsc4B7 pic.twitter.com/QUS0Eiju8b— NHL (@NHL) June 23, 2022

Under three minutes into the third period, Nico Sturm threw the puck off of his line mate Andrew Cogliano and in to tie the game up at two goals a piece.

We've got a tied game (again)! 🫣 #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: ABC, @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/Yn0bJ26ESi
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/GRXbmsc4B7 pic.twitter.com/A58loCT6K7— NHL (@NHL) June 23, 2022

The game headed to overtime for a second time in the series. Just over halfway through the extra frame, Nazem Kadri stepped up and ripped the puck under Vasilevskiy's blocker and got lodged on the back bar. No one really knew where the puck was, but as soon as Bowen Byram noticed it was in the net, the Avalanche poured onto the ice to celebrate with Nazem Kadri and now, Colorado heads home with a 3-1 series lead.

NAZEM! KADRI!

The @Avalanche take a 3-1 series lead! 😏 #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/eVIjSKz6or— NHL (@NHL) June 23, 2022

Ball Arena in Denver is going to be rocking on Friday night as the Colorado Avalanche have the opportunity to win their first Stanley Cup since 2001. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET on CBC, Sportsnet and ABC.