Colorado Avalanche (2-4-0) @ Seattle Kraken (4-2-0)
6:30 p.m. MT | Climate Pledge Arena | Watch: ESPN, ESPN+ | Listen: Altitude Sports Radio (92.5 FM)
After back-to-back wins, the Avalanche continue their road trip against the Seattle Kraken. These teams will meet two more times this season, both at Ball Arena, on November 5 and December 22.
Latest Result (COL): COL 4, SJS 1
Latest Result (SEA): CGY 1, SEA 2 (OT)
Avalanche vs. Sharks 10.20.24 Recap
Colorado picked up its second win of the season on Sunday in San Jose. Ross Colton opened the scoring on the power play with his first of two goals on Sunday at 6:23 of the first period and scored his second of the evening at 16:37 of the opening frame. At 18:25 of the first, William Eklund scored a power-play goal to put San Jose on the board. After a scoreless second period, Joel Kiviranta doubled Colorado's lead with his first goal of the season at 9:57 of the third period with a backhand shot from the blue paint. Cale Makar scored the final goal of the game and his second of the season with an empty-net tally at 18:23 of the third period.
Avs Accomplishments
Makar is tied for the NHL’s points lead with 12 points (2g/10a), first in assists, and first in points among defensemen, while Nathan MacKinnon (2g/9a) and Mikko Rantanen (4g/7a) are tied for fourth with 11 points. MacKinnon’s nine assists are tied for second-most in the NHL.
The Avalanche are the only team in the NHL with multiple players among the NHL’s six-leading points leaders (Makar, MacKinnon, Rantanen).
In six games played, Cale Makar tied the NHL benchmark for fewest games to 10 assists in a season by a defenseman. Others who have accomplished this feat are Morgan Rielly, Gary Suter, Larry Murphy, Paul Coffey, and Bobby Orr.
Colton is tied for second in the NHL in goals with six and tied for first in the league in power-play goals with three.
History
In nine prior regular-season meetings, the Avalanche are 5-3-1 against the Kraken, including 4-1-0 at Climate Pledge Arena. Last season, Colorado won two of its three meetings with Seattle, winning both games on the road and losing at home.
Putting Out the Flames
On Saturday, the Kraken beat the Calgary Flames 2-1 in overtime at Climate Pledge Arena. Calgary’s Blake Coleman opened the scoring at 19:51 of the first period with a power-play goal assisted by Mikael Backlund. Seattle’s Chandler Stephenson tied the game with a power-play goal of his own at 12:25 of the second period assisted by Jared McCann and Jaden Schwartz. Jordan Eberle won the game for Seattle at 48 seconds of overtime with his goal assisted by Brandon Montour.
Stats to Know
In eight-career regular-season meetings with the Kraken, MacKinnon has posted eight points (2g/6a), including six points (1g/5a) in three games last season.
Makar has registered 10 points (4g/6a) in eight regular-season contests against Seattle, including four points (1g/3a) in three games in 2023-24.
Alexandar Georgiev has posted a 2-0-1 record against the Kraken over three starts, in addition to a .946 save percentage and a 1.66 goals-against average.
Kraken by the Numbers
McCann leads the Kraken in points with eight (3g/5a) and Eberle is second with seven (5g/2a), while leading the team in goals.
Montour and Ryker Evans lead Kraken blueliners in scoring with four points (1g/3a) each.
In net for Seattle, Joey Daccord has a 3-0-0 mark along with a .914 save percentage and a 2.60 goals-against average while former Avalanche goalie Philipp Grubauer has posted a 1-2-0 record with a .877 save percentage and a 3.07 goals-against average.
Numbers Game
150
Makar recorded his 150th power-play point on Sunday and is now tied with Sandis Ozolinsh for most power-play points by a defenseman in franchise history.
3
Rantanen leads the NHL in three-point games with three while Makar is tied for second with two.
8
The Avalanche are tied for first in the NHL with eight power-play goals and tied 38.1% power-play mark is tied for second in the league.
Quote That Left a Mark
“My favorite thing about playing with them is just coming back to the bench and the little things that they tell you. [It] makes a big difference and goes a long way coming from those guys that they believe in me. And we’ve kind of formed a little bit of chemistry here.”
-- Ross Colton on playing on a line with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen
