Kraken Again Breathe Life Into Opponent In 5-1 Loss To Avs

The Seattle Kraken's own demons once again prevented them from capitalizing on a slumping opponent.

Monday at Climate Pledge Arena, the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Kraken, 5-1. Though Seattle scored first for the 11th time in 16 games, they've only won five (5-8-3). 

The team continues to disappoint home fans (2-5-0 at CPA), its #27 penalty kill gave up the lead goal and a second one later, and the offense dried up again in the second half of games.

The Kraken hope coach Dave Hakstol's tongue-lashing at a punishing practice will keep them from sagging against another struggling opponent. Colorado is 2-5 in its last seven games, including a 4-3 loss to Seattle in Denver on Thursday.

In his first shift back from an opening-game injury, Brandon Tanev hits the post. Seattle will look to feed off his energy.

At 5:41, Seattle's Jamie Oleksiak and Colorado's Kurtis MacDermid - combined weight 490 lbs.- engage in a fight.

The first Kraken to feed off Tanev's energy is Brandon Tanev, giving Seattle a 1-0 lead at 6:13, his first of the season.

The Kraken appear to take a 2-0 lead while shorthanded, when Alex Wennberg puts the puck in the net on his third whack. But Tanev is ruled to have pushed the right pad of Colorado goalie Alexandar Georgiev, so the score is wiped off the board.

The successful coach's challenge hurts Seattle in three ways: (1) losing the score; (2) erasing Wennberg's first goal; (3) had the challenge failed, the Avs' bench minor would negate the remainder of their power play.

Seattle kills it off anyway, but that man Tanev trips Mikko Rantanen with one second left in the period.

Kraken offense observation: coach Hakstol demanded more shots from his charges, who got the message. Seattle had seven of the first eight SOGs, and a 9-6 shots advantage after 20.

Kraken defense observation: goalie Philipp Grubauer historically has played his best against the Avs, his former team. But he was replaced after allowing four 1st period goals to the Oilers in Seattle's last game.

Joey Daccord, who pitched a two-period shutout in relief, got the start tonight - and now hasn't been scored against for a full-game's worth of time, 60 minutes. Whether he extends that to 62 minutes will depend on the Seattle penalty kill.

Wennberg forces a Colorado penalty to prematurely end their power play at 1:13. On the rush 4-on-4, Oliver Bjorkstand fires wide with an open look.

Seattle tries and fails to clear their zone 27* times in a single shift, as the Avalanche apply pressure for 42* consecutive minutes (*both numbers estimates). The Kraken bend but dont break, aided by Daccord's fine save on Valeri Nichushkin's slot shot.

Soon after, Daccord pushes across his crease and kicks out a pad to stone Miles Wood. When the Kraken apply pressure of their own, Georgiev rejects quality shots by Adam Larsson, Matty Beniers and Eeli Tolvanen.

The Kraken playoff nemesis - no, not Cale Makar; Mikko Rantanen - ties the game 1-1 at 12:05 with his 10th goal.

51 seconds later, Rantanen forces Tolvanen into a tripping penalty. Colorado's Ross Colton takes advantage, the PP goal giving the visitors their first lead, 2-1 at 14:12.

Shots in the period: 13-9 Avalanche, and 19-18 through 40.

If you don't have something nice to say... just show the Colorado goals.

Cale Makar at 4:14. 3-1 Avalanche.

Jonathan Drouin at 9:09. 4-1 Avalanche.

Valeri Nichushkin on the power play at 16:43. 5-1 Avalanche is the final.

Shots in the final period were 12-1(!) Colorado, 31-19 for the game.

One game after allowing zero shots to Edmonton in the 3rd period, the Kraken don't have any SOG of their own in this 3rd period until the final two minutes. What happened to Hakstol's demand for more shots?

Remarkably, the Kraken-Avalanche season series has now concluded. Colorado took two of three, with every win belonging to the visiting club. Seattle now returns to the road for a Wednesday rematch with the Oilers in Edmonton.