First Round Game 4 Preview: Avalanche vs. Kraken

COLORADO AVALANCHE (2-1) VS SEATTLE KRAKEN (1-2)
8 PM MT | CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA

Colorado takes on Seattle Monday night in Game 4 of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

GAME 3 RECAP

The Avalanche lead the series 2-1 after defeating the Kraken 6-4 on Saturday night at Climate Pledge Arena. Nathan MacKinnon scored twice, including the game-winner, for his 10th multi-goal game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in his career. Mikko Rantanen notched three points to reach 81 career postseason points and tie Peter Stastny for fourth-most in franchise history. J.T. Compher found the back of the net on the penalty kill for the second shorthanded goal of his Stanley Cup Playoffs career. Cale Makar and Devon Toews each recorded two points. Alexandar Georgiev made 25 saves on 29 shots that came his way. Andrew Cogliano returned to the lineup after missing Game 2, while Valeri Nichushkin and Darren Helm were absent in Game 3.

For the Kraken, Jaden Schwartz found the back of the net twice, including Seattles’ first power-play goal of the series. Rookie Matty Beniers and Jamie Oleksiak both scored their first goal of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. In between the pipes, former Avalanche netminder Philipp Grubauer made 28 saves on 33 shots.

GOALTENDING MATCHUP

Georgiev holds a 2-1 record through the first three games against the Seattle Kraken during the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He has a .898 save percentage and a 3.03 goals-against average. Georgiev has been stout between the pipes while the Avs have been on the penalty kill, allowing just one goal over the last 11 Kraken power-play opportunities.

Grubauer started in his 36th postseason appearance on Saturday – third for Seattle – and made 28 saves from the 33 shots that came his way. Through the first three games, Grubauer holds a 1-2 record, with a .917 save percentage and a 3.06 goals-against average.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Toews and Lehkonen both notched their second-consecutive game with two points after each recording a goal and an assist in Game 2 & two assists in Game 3.

Rantanen struck twice and added a helper in Game 3, bringing his series point total to four points which is tied for the team lead with Toews and Lehkonen.

MacKinnon has registered a series-leading 20 shots on goal through three games.

Kraken defenseman Justin Schultz leads the Kraken with four points (1G, 3A) and has recorded at least one point in all three games. Schultz added a two assist performance in Game 3.

Kraken forward Yanni Gourde has tallied three assists in the last two games for Seattle.

Kraken forward Jaden Schwartz registered his first and second playoff goal in a Seattle sweater in Game 3, while Matty Benier notched his first postseason goal of his career.

QUOTES

“I think in that situation, experience came in handy there. We knew it was not going to be easy. It’s the playoffs, and these guys are an awesome team that we’re playing. They are buzzing at home, so we knew it would be hard, so there was no panic. We were feeling good about our game, honestly. We had a tough 20 seconds like you said, but overall, I thought we really played well. We are a pesky road team, I think, and even with guys out, we still feel confident.” – Colorado forward Nathan MacKinnon on Game 3 during the TNT post-game interview.

Stanley Cup Aspirations – Cue’ the Duck Boats Pod

The boys are back after a long break but have plenty to talk about as the playoffs are in full swing. We go series by series, looking at how teams have fared so far and who will come out on top. Thanks for listening! Please rate and review our show on your favorite listening platform. Check out our partner's website at www.insidetherink.com for all your latest hockey news.