Game Preview: Avalanche vs. Kraken

COLORADO AVALANCHE (34-21-5) VS SEATTLE KRAKEN (35-21-6)
7 PM MT | BALL ARENAWATCH:ALTITUDELISTEN: 92.5FM/950 AM
The Colorado Avalanche host the Seattle Kraken Sunday for Pride Night at Ball Arena. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. MT on Altitude Sports.

During the Pride Night game, the Avalanche will have multiple Pride-themed activations including an anthem performance by the Denver Women's Chorus, a trans- and nonbinary-inclusive chorus comprised of LGBTQ+ singers and many dedicated allies, an, "AVS PRIDE" marquee letter photo opportunity on the concourse, and the building will be lit in rainbow in support of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Avalanche encourages fans to join in the conversation by printing a Hockey Is For Everyone placard, creating Pride-themed warm-up posters to bring to the game.

LAST TIME OUT

On Saturday, the Avs fell to the Dallas Stars, 7-3. Sam Girard tallied three points (1G, 2A) for his fith multi-point game of the season. Andrew Cogliano scored his 10th goal of the season, while Evan Rodrigues found the back of the net on the man-advantage for his 12th this year. Alex Newhook had two assists.
Winners of four of their last three, Seattle enters Sunday's matchup following a 4-2 win at Columbus Friday night. Jared McCann scored his 30th goal of the season and also tallied an assist. Jordan Eberle, Alex Wennberg and Brandon Tanev also found the back of the net for the Kraken. Seattle is 6-3-1 in their last 10 games.

HISTORY

Colorado owns an 3-2-0 record against the second year franchise and is 1-1-0 at home.
Sunday's matchup is the third and final time that the two teams meet this season. The Avs are 1-1 against the Kraken this season, with Colorado getting the best of Seattle in the most recent matchup on Jan. 21, 2-1 in a shootout. Alex Newhook scored for the Avs before Nathan MacKinnon found the back of the net for the lone goal in the shootout.

SCOUTING THE KRAKEN

Eberle leads Seattle in scoring with 50 points (14G, 36A) and paces the team in assists. McCann has scored a team-leading 30 goals this season, which is the first player in franchise history to reach the mark in the team's second year.
Rookie Matty Beniers leads all first year players in the NHL in points (44) and goals (19) and is tied for second in assists (25) with Minnesota's Calen Addison.
Netminder Martin Jones holds a 24-10-3 record between the pipes this season, with a 2.98 goals-against average and a .890 save percentage.
As a team, the Kraken have averaged 3.84 goals-for per game on the road this season, which is third in the league.

LINEUP UPDATES

Avalanche

Pavel Francouz Lower body
Darren HelmLower body
Erik Johnson Lower body
Gabriel LandeskogLower body

Kraken

Oliver BjorkstrandLower body (day-to-day)

DOING THE MOST

Cale Makar leads the Avs franchise in points against the Kraken with five (3G, 2A) in four games.

BEHIND ENEMY LINES

Eberle leads all-active Kraken players with 38 points (20G, 18A) in 40 games played against Colorado.
Martin Jones holds a 12-9-2 mark against Colorado in 23 games played against Colorado, with a 3.38 goals-against average and a .889 save percentage.

NUMBERS GAME

14-4-2
The Avalanche are 14-4-2 in their last 20 games.
43rd
Newly-aquired goaltender Keith Kinkaid became the 43rd player to play for Colorado this season, tied with Toronto for the most players used by any team this season.
6
Rodrigues' goal on the man-advantage on Saturday in Dallas was his sixth power-play goal this season, one shy of tying his career high set in 2021-22.