The Western Conference champion Avalanche, playing for the first time in nine days since capping a sweep of Edmonton in the Western Conference final on June 6, jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in front of a raucous home crowd.
Kucherov collected the puck near the Avs’ blue line and put a sublime combination on defenseman Devon Toews, getting to the backhand and then leaving a perfect pass across the middle for Palat, who converted easily.
In fact, he helped spark the Lightning’s second-period comeback, stoning a prime look from Nichushkin, the shot caroming off his chest.
Tampa Bay tied the game 48 seconds later, setting up the dramatic conclusion.
When the Lightning killed off a frantic final 1:24 of regulation following a Pat Maroon delay of game penalty, Game 1 delivered a deserved overtime.
This city waited 21 years for the Stanley Cup Final to return and when the moment finally arrived on Wednesday night, it did so in classic fashion.
It capped a high-level battle that spent the final 26:21 of regulation even at three after each team surged over the opening two periods.
Burakovsky, though, ended it quickly and moved Colorado within three wins of its first championship since 2001.