Kraken vs. Avalanche
The Seattle Kraken will face off against the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. The Kraken hold a 2-1 advantage over the Avalanche in regular season contests.
AP PHOTO/DAVID ZALUBOWSKI
Seattle left wing Jared McCann leads the Kraken in goals this season with 40. McCann scored a goal and assisted on another during an Oct. 21 matchup against Colorado this season.
SEATTLE — After qualifying for the postseason in only the franchise’s second year, the Seattle Kraken will match up against the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Seattle finished the regular season with a 46-28-8 record and in fourth place in the Pacific Division, while Colorado finished 51-24-7 and in first place in the Central Division.
The Kraken and Avalanche matched up three times this season, with Seattle winning two of the three closely contested games.
The first matchup ended with a 3-2 Kraken win on Oct. 21, where center Jaden Schwartz and left wing Jared McCann both netted goals early in the second period to take a 2-0 lead. Colorado tied the game in the third period, but a goal by Seattle’s Karson Kuhlman put the Kraken ahead en route to a 3-2 win.
The second matchup on Jan. 21 fell in favor of Colorado, which won 2-1 in a shootout. Seattle center Ryan Donato tied the game at one midway through the second period, and the two teams remained tied after regulation. The first three shootout attempts were missed before Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon scored, and the ensuing Seattle attempt was missed to give the Avalanche the win.
The third and final matchup was won by Seattle, with another 3-2 win on March 5. After a first-period goal by Colorado’s MacKinnon, Seattle center Alex Wennberg tied the game with a second-period goal. The Avalanche retook the lead two minutes later; Kraken left wing Brandon Tanev tied the game at two in the third period. Center Yanni Gourde scored less than 90 seconds into overtime, giving the Kraken the win.
Both of Seattle’s wins over Colorado in the regular season came on the road. The Avalanche hold home-ice advantage in the first-round series.
Puck drop for game one between the Kraken and Avalanche is at 7 p.m. The first two games of the series will be in Colorado. Games 3 and 4 will be in Seattle.
Kraken vs Avalanche Schedule
Game 1 - @ Colorado - 7 p.m.
Game 2 - @ Colorado - 6:30 p.m.
Game 3 - vs Colorado - 7 p.m.
Game 4 - vs Colorado - 7 p.m.
Game 5 (if necessary) - @ Colorado - TBD
Game 6 (if necessary) - vs Colorado - TBD
Game 7 (if necessary) - @ Colorado - TBD
