The Kraken let their first chance to bounce the defending Stanley Cup champions from the postseason slip away on Friday, dropping a one-sided 4-1 decision to the Avalanche. However, the Kraken have enjoyed consistent success when hitting the ice at Ball Arena, where they have claimed victory in two of three games in this series and topped the Avalanche in four of five overall. 

The Avalanche enter Sunday’s series finale perched as strong -226 on the NHL odds. The Kraken are pegged as a lengthy +182 bet to claim victory in their first ever playoff series, while -123 odds favour the total going OVER 5.5.  

Kraken vs. Avalanche NHL Playoff Betting Odds

The Kraken have enjoyed considerable success when facing off against Avalanche on the road. With wins in two of three dates in Colorado during this series, Seattle has now topped the Avs in five of six overall clashes at Ball Arena. However, the Avalanche have dominated in recent Game 7 appearances, winning fiver straight since 2002, but with three of this victories coming in overtime. Game 6 extended what has been a steady trend towards low scoring when these teams meet. The Kraken and Avs have combined to score an average of 5.67 total goals per game so far in the series, and 5.0 or fewer goals in nine of their past 10 overall matchups, with the UNDER going 9-01 over that stretch.

Seattle Kraken

The Kraken opened the scoring in Game 6 with an unassisted first-period marker from Vince Dunn, but were unable to keep pace with the Avs the rest of the way while recording just 23 shots on goal. Indeed, this club would benefit from a boost in scoring from its biggest stars after averaging just 2.67 goals per game through the first six games of the series. However, with the status of leading scorer Jared McCann still uncertain after he suffered a head injury resulting from a nasty hit by Cale Makar in Game 5, the pressure is on Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle to up their production after combining to record just four total points so far in the series. The Kraken defence must also provide netminder Philipp Grubauer with more help, Grubauer has impressed while allowing just 2.67 goals per game in the series, capped by a 35-save performance in game 6. However, the Kraken have lost three of four in this series when allowing over 30 shots on goal.

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche saw their injury woes deepen in Game with the loss of veteran Andrew Cogliano, who suffered a broken neck resulting from a big hit by Jordan Eberle. Cogliano joins Josh Manson in the clinic, while the club also remains without Valeri Nichushkin, who has been unavailable since Game 3 for murky personal reasons. Despite their injury woes, the Avs turned in performance worthy of the defending champions in Game 6. Mikko Rantanen turned in another strong performance while scoring the game-tying goal and setting up the game winner and has now recorded six goals and nine points in the series. Devon Toews continued to excel in a playmaking role with a pair of assists and leads the club with six helpers. Nathan MacKinnon failed to make the scoresheet despite recording seven shots on goal, and has produced just one goal and two assists in his past five home appearances.  

Game 7 Prediction: Who Will Win Kraken vs. Avalanche?

It wouldn’t be hard to follow one’s heart and back the Kraken in their bid to pull off the biggest NHL playoff upset of the year. However, with the Avalanche swinging into championship form in Game 6, it will be a massive challenge for this offensively challenged Seattle squad to keep pace. That adds to the pressure on Philipp Grubauer to come up big and somehow find a way to steal the victory in the Kraken’s biggest game in franchise history.

Injuries

Seattle

Vince Dunn (D)

Ques Tues Undisclosed - 10 / 04 / 23

Martin Jones (G)

day-to-day Hand - 09 / 04 / 23

Jaden Schwartz (LW)

Ques Tues Undisclosed - 08 / 04 / 23

Alex Wennberg (C)

Prob Sat Ear - 07 / 04 / 23

Oliver Bjorkstrand (RW)

Prob Thurs Personal - 04 / 04 / 23

Philipp Grubauer (G)

Ques Sat Illness - 21 / 03 / 23

John Hayden (C)

out for season Lower Body - 18 / 03 / 23

Jordan Eberle (RW)

Ques Sat Undisclosed - 11 / 03 / 23

Vince Dunn (D)

Ques Thurs Upper Body - 08 / 03 / 23

Oliver Bjorkstrand (RW)

Ques Sun Lower Body - 03 / 03 / 23

Colorado

Andrew Cogliano (C)

day-to-day Upper Body - 13 / 04 / 23

Bowen Byram (D)

Ques Tues Illness - 08 / 04 / 23

Darren Helm (LW)

Out indefinitely Lower Body - 05 / 04 / 23

Evan Rodrigues (C)

Prob Sun Concussion - 21 / 03 / 23

Artturi Lehkonen (LW)

Prob Thurs Finger - 14 / 03 / 23

Kurtis MacDermid (D)

Prob Mon Lower Body - 08 / 03 / 23

Valeri Nichushkin (RW)

Ques Sat Illness - 03 / 03 / 23

Josh Manson (D)

Out indefinitely Lower Body - 02 / 03 / 23

Kurtis MacDermid (D)

Ques Tues Concussion - 26 / 02 / 23

Valeri Nichushkin (RW)

Ques Wed Undisclosed - 15 / 02 / 23

Injuries

Seattle

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Vince Dunn (D)	Ques Tues	Undisclosed - 10 / 04 / 23	10-7	8-9	+ -
Dunn was held out of the previous game with an undetermined injury, and it is unknown whether he will suit up against the Golden Knights in Tuesday's showdown.
Martin Jones (G)	day-to-day	Hand - 09 / 04 / 23	11-8	8-10-1	+ -
Jones is bothered by a hand injury, and it is up in the air if he will be active for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Jaden Schwartz (LW)	Ques Tues	Undisclosed - 08 / 04 / 23	11-8	8-10-1	+ -
Schwartz has been absent from the previous two contests with an unknown ailment, and it remains to be seen if he will face the Golden Knights on Tuesday.
Alex Wennberg (C)	Prob Sat	Ear - 07 / 04 / 23	12-7	9-10	+ -
Wennberg was lifted from the last contest due to an ear injury, but it is anticipated that he will suit up for Saturday's match with the Blackhawks.
Oliver Bjorkstrand (RW)	Prob Thurs	Personal - 04 / 04 / 23	13-8	10-11	+ -
Bjorkstrand has been away from the team for the birth of his child, but it is expected that he will return against the Coyotes on Thursday.
Philipp Grubauer (G)	Ques Sat	Illness - 21 / 03 / 23	16-11	13-13-1	+ -
Grubauer has sat out the last two games with an illness, and it is uncertain if he will dress for Saturday's showdown against the Predators.
John Hayden (C)	out for season	Lower Body - 18 / 03 / 23	16-12	13-14-1	+ -
Hayden has been designated to the injured reserve after having surgery for a lower-body injury, and he is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Jordan Eberle (RW)	Ques Sat	Undisclosed - 11 / 03 / 23	17-14	16-14-1	+ -
Eberle is dealing with an unknown issue, and it remains to be seen if he will lace up for Saturday's matchup with the Stars.
Vince Dunn (D)	Ques Thurs	Upper Body - 08 / 03 / 23	19-14	17-15-1	+ -
Dunn exited the last match due to an upper-body injury, and it has yet to be confirmed whether he will face off against the Senators on Thursday.
Oliver Bjorkstrand (RW)	Ques Sun	Lower Body - 03 / 03 / 23	21-14	18-16-1	+ -
Bjorkstrand was lifted from the previous game due to a lower-body issue, and it is unknown if he will participate in Sunday's showdown versus the Avalanche.

Colorado

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Andrew Cogliano (C)	day-to-day	Upper Body - 13 / 04 / 23	4-5	2-6-1	+ -
Cogliano is managing an upper-body injury, and it is unclear if he will be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Bowen Byram (D)	Ques Tues	Illness - 08 / 04 / 23	6-8	6-7-1	+ -
Byram has missed the previous two contests with an illness, leaving his status for Tuesday's tilt against the Oilers up in the air.
Darren Helm (LW)	Out indefinitely	Lower Body - 05 / 04 / 23	6-8	7-6-1	+ -
Helm is sidelined with a lower-body injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Evan Rodrigues (C)	Prob Sun	Concussion - 21 / 03 / 23	10-11	10-9-2	+ -
Rodrigues has been idle while going through the concussion protocol, but he is expected to return against the Coyotes on Sunday.
Artturi Lehkonen (LW)	Prob Thurs	Finger - 14 / 03 / 23	12-12	12-10-2	+ -
Lehkonen has been idle after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured finger, but he is expected to return to the lineup for Thursday's tilt versus the Jets.
Kurtis MacDermid (D)	Prob Mon	Lower Body - 08 / 03 / 23	13-15	13-13-2	+ -
MacDermid has been out of the lineup with a lower-body injury, but it is anticipated that he will return against the Blackhawks on Monday.
Valeri Nichushkin (RW)	Ques Sat	Illness - 03 / 03 / 23	13-17	15-13-2	+ -
Nichushkin is ailing from an illness, and it is up in the air if he will dress for Saturday's battle against the Stars.
Josh Manson (D)	Out indefinitely	Lower Body - 02 / 03 / 23	14-17	15-14-2	+ -
Manson is idle due to lower-body injury, and team officials have yet to provide an exact return date.
Kurtis MacDermid (D)	Ques Tues	Concussion - 26 / 02 / 23	16-17	15-15-3	+ -
MacDermid has been absent from the last four games while going through the league's concussion protocol, and it remains to be seen if he will be available Tuesday against the Sharks.
Valeri Nichushkin (RW)	Ques Wed	Undisclosed - 15 / 02 / 23	20-18	18-17-3	+ -
Nichushkin is battling an unknown ailment, and it remains to be seen if he will line up for Wednesday's matchup versus the Wild.