Kraken hold off Avalanche in Game 5, take lead in Western 1st Round

DENVER --The Seattle Kraken pushed the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche to the brink with a 3-2 win in Game 5 of the Western Conference First Round at Ball Arena on Wednesday.

The Kraken lead the best-of-7 series 3-2. Game 6 will be in Seattle on Friday.
"It's great, but at the end of the day, the fourth one is the toughest one to get, and we know that," Seattle forward Yanni Gourde said.
Tye Kartye scored in his NHL debut, and Philipp Grubauer made 26 saves for the Kraken, who are the first wild card in the West.
"We've played to our identity. We'll continue to try to do that. That's the most important thing," Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said. "You get to this time of year, the stage is a little bigger, it's a little brighter. There's a little bit more on the line and everything means a little bit more, but you still have to fall back on who you are. And that's where I believe our veteran guys have done a nice job, in keeping our group pretty even-keeled and just kind of focusing on the] next job at hand."
***[RELATED: [Complete Avalanche vs. Kraken series coverage]*
Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist, and Alexandar Georgiev made 26 saves for the Avalanche, who are the No. 1 seed from the Central Division.
"I'm sure we're frustrated right now that we let an opportunity slip away at home," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. "Again, wasn't anywhere near the game that we have to play in order to have success. It's not the game we played all year long, but we'll have to reset and get there. We've been a confident team on the road, but right now in this series, I'd say confidence is low, and we've got to find a way to get it back and build it back."
The Avalanche played without defenseman Cale Makar, who was serving a one-game suspension for interference on Jared McCann in Game 4. Defenseman Josh Manson also left the game in the second period after reaggravating a lower-body injury.
"It's a continuation from his other injury. Obviously, he's been dealing with it for quite some time now," Bednar said of Manson. "Obviously, he didn't feel good enough to continue playing, so status for Game 6, I have no idea."
Morgan Geekie gave Seattle a 1-0 lead at 6:35 of the second period when he buried the rebound of Jaden Schwartz's shot five-hole on Georgiev.

The Kraken have scored the first goal in every game this series.
"I was just in the right spot at the right time," Geekie said. "[Alex Wennberg] made a great play, and 'Schwartzy' put it on net. I just tried to get there and tried to get the rebound."
MacKinnon tied it 1-1 at 7:55. Grubauer cleared the puck up the boards right to Mikko Rantanen, whose quick shot hit off the goalie's glove and deflected in off the skate of MacKinnon.
Kartye, who was recalled from Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League on Wednesday, responded to put the Kraken back in front 2-1 at 9:59, one-timing a cross-ice pass from Jordan Eberle in the right circle.
"I was just kind of driving the net, and I saw he had the puck and tried to get open. And, obviously, he made a pretty special pass there," Kartye said. "A year ago, a year and a half ago, this was my wildest dream. So this day's been pretty special."

Gourde pushed it to 3-1 at 1:40 of the third period when he got inside position on Bowen Byram and redirected a point shot from Carson Soucy.
"It was off my stick. I tried to get to the net for [Oliver Bjorkstrand] to take a shot, and then it went to the point," Gourde said. "I tried to box my guy out with my left hand, and with my right, that's my top hand, I was able to tip the puck. A great shot by our defenseman. Every time we shoot, on and off the stick, it allows our guys to go to the net and get those pucks."
Evan Rodrigues cut it to 3-2 at 16:23 with Georgiev pulled for the extra skater. His one-timer from the point first hit off the stick of Wennberg before deflecting in off the body of Jamie Oleksiak.
"It's tough, yeah. We didn't have our A-game or our B-game tonight, I don't know why," MacKinnon said. "We just got to find a way to bring Game 7 back here. I think we're just shooting ourselves in the foot. I know it's cliche to say, but I think there's plays to be made out there and we're just not making them for whatever reason right now. It's not a matter of work or competitiveness or anything like that."
NOTES:Kartye, who signed as an undrafted free agent with the Kraken on March 1, 2022, was named the AHL Rookie of the Year after getting 57 points (28 goals, 29 assists) in 72 games with Coachella Valley. He is the eighth player in NHL history since 1927 to score a goal while making his debut in the playoffs.