DENVER — The Seattle Kraken converged from all factors on the ice to the identical spot – Philipp Grubauer’s web.
A becoming gathering place to have a good time one other first for this younger franchise.
Grubauer was stellar in stopping 33 photographs, Oliver Bjorkstrand scored twice and the Kraken eradicated the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche with a 2-1 win in Game 7 on Sunday night time.
The Kraken grew to become the primary enlargement workforce to beat the reigning Stanley Cup champs of their inaugural playoff sequence, based on NHL Stats.
“A great accomplishment,” mentioned Kraken ahead Yanni Gourde, who had two assists. “Our fans have been amazing. They deserve this.”
Bjorkstrand scored one aim on a fortuitous deflection – the puck hit off a stick and glove – and one other with a liner previous goaltender Alexandar Georgiev that clanged off the publish. Seattle grabbed the lead in each recreation within the sequence.
PHOTOS: Kraken beat Avs 2-1, eradicate defending Stanley Cup champs
Next up for the second-year Kraken is a second-round sequence towards the Stars that opens in Dallas on Tuesday night time. Seattle was 1-1-1 towards Dallas within the common season.
The Kraken take a heap of momentum with them, too.
“It gives them that check mark of success,” Seattle coach Dave Hakstol mentioned.
Mikko Rantanen was credited with a power-play aim for Colorado after a shot by Nathan MacKinnon clipped him and went in. MacKinnon appeared to attain early within the third interval to tie it at 2, however Seattle challenged the play and the aim was disallowed attributable to Colorado being offside.
Seattle’s video crew turned in an MVP-caliber efficiency all sequence.
The Avalanche pulled Georgiev with underneath 2 minutes remaining however couldn’t get the equalizer. It allowed the Kraken to perform one other franchise first – a series-clinching celebration.
“Lots more to come from our group,” Grubauer mentioned. “That was only series one.”
Colorado has now misplaced its final six Game 7s. The final time the Avalanche received a winner-take-all Game 7 was 2002, once they beat San Jose 1-0 courtesy of a aim from Hall of Fame ahead Peter Forsberg.
Both groups misplaced gamers for the sequence attributable to arduous hits. Jared McCann didn’t play once more after taking a success from Cale Makar alongside the boards in Game 4, which drew a one-game suspension (Game 5) for the Avalanche defenseman. Colorado was with out Andrew Cogliano for Game 7 after he suffered a fracture in his neck following a success alongside the boards from Kraken ahead Jordan Eberle, who didn’t face supplemental self-discipline.
MacKinnon energized the gang with what appeared like a tying aim. But it was taken off the board following a problem as Artturi Lehkonen was dominated within the zone earlier than the puck entered.
It’s the second time this sequence the Kraken have used a problem to negate an Avalanche rating.
The Kraken additionally deflated the capability crowd by doing what they’ve performed in each recreation this sequence – rating first.
“This is a really good hockey team,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar mentioned of the Kraken. “The one thing they were that we weren’t in the series was consistent.”
Held with out a aim all sequence coming in, Bjorkstrand was credited with a aim within the second interval that glanced the stick of Alex Newhook after which off the glove of Ben Meyers and into the aim. Bjorkstrand scored once more almost 4 minutes in a while a breakaway down the facet to make it 2-0.
Bjorkstrand almost had a hat trick however his shot late within the recreation hit the publish.
“I didn’t want to go out and not being able to sleep at night because I didn’t perform well,” Bjorkstrand defined. “Some nights you just kind of feel the puck better and I feel like this is just one of those nights.”
With 27.3 seconds left within the second interval, MacKinnon lined a shot that glanced off Rantanen and glided by Grubauer. MacKinnon’s help on the play was his one centesimal profession playoff level. He joins the corporate of Joe Sakic (188) and Forsberg (159) as the one Avalanche gamers to achieve the 100-point milestone within the postseason.
Georgiev completed with 25 saves.
Grubauer was sensational within the first interval towards his former workforce. He stopped 16 photographs to set the tone for the night.
The banged-up Avalanche have been lacking forwards Darren Helm (higher physique), Cogliano and Valeri Nichushkin (private causes), together with defenseman Josh Manson (decrease physique) in Game 7.
They’ve been with out captain Gabriel Landeskog all season after he underwent knee surgical procedure in October.
“Tough year overall,” MacKinnon mentioned. “Obviously, during the season, we’re going to say all of the right things, but it’s hard missing the guys. … We played a really great game, just couldn’t find the back of the net.”
AROUND THE ICE
Kraken ahead Tye Kartye turned 22 on Sunday. … Colorado completed 2 for 18 on the ability play within the sequence.
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