Bjorkstrand scores late in 3rd period, Kraken defeat Avalanche

DENVER -- Oliver Bjorkstrand’s second goal of the game broke a tie with 32 seconds left, and the Seattle Kraken defeated the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 at Ball Arena on Thursday.

Bjorkstrand scored on a rebound at the far post after Colorado goalie Ivan Prosvetov made the initial save against Eeli Tolvanen from point-blank range.

“I honestly barely remember it. I tried to get it on net,” Bjorkstrand said. “’Tolvy’ had a chance. I just got a little bit of a greasy one there."

Jaden Schwartz had a goal and an assist, and Matty Beniers scored his first of the season for the Kraken (5-6-3), who have won three of their past five games (3-1-1). Philipp Grubauer made 23 saves.

“I liked all the parts of the game. This is a tough building to win in,” Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said. “There's always going to be some ebbs and flows in the hockey game, some different momentum swings, but ultimately we showed great resilience at the end of the game and found the game-winner. It’s a great win.”

Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and two assists, and Bowen Byram and Valeri Nichushkin scored for the Avalanche (8-4-0), who had been undefeated at home (4-0-0). Prosvetov made 18 saves.

“I thought as a whole, that's the way I want our team to compete,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “We played hard. We weren't perfect -- never going to be, but thought we did a nice job.

“I thought our guys worked extremely hard and it didn't come easy for us, but I think this is the National Hockey League. You have to expect to have to play exceptional, execution has to be exceptional, and your effort has to be exceptional in order to win. That's the way it should be. That's what makes winning so fun.”

Schwartz gave the Kraken a 1-0 lead at 18:39 of the first period when he took a drop pass from outside the right circle and fired a wrist shot to the far side of the net.

Bjorkstrand made it 2-0 with a snap shot from between the circles past Prosvetov’s blocker at 4:29 of the second period.

Byram cut it to 2-1 just 28 seconds later at 4:57 on a 2-on-1 with MacKinnon, sending a wrist shot over the right shoulder of Grubauer.

Beniers, the No. 2 pick of the 2021 NHL Draft, gave the Kraken a 3-1 lead on a wrist shot from the left circle that snuck under the glove of Prosvetov for a power-play goal at 11:35. Beniers, who scored 24 goals and won the Calder Trophy last season as the League’s top rookie, was held without a goal in his first 13 games this season.

“I think I’ve had those chances in games past and sometimes they just don’t go in. I was fortunate to get one in tonight,” Beniers said. “Felt good. Felt great.”

MacKinnon cut it to 3-2 at 15:40. Cale Makar sent him a pass from the blue line that he stopped atop the crease before turning and finishing short side.

Nichushkin tied it 3-3 at 12:15 of the third period, redirecting a point shot from Devon Toews.

“I felt like we deserved a better outcome, to be honest with you,” Makar said. “I think we battled a lot of elements tonight, guys going down, and I felt like our work ethic was top-notch. “So compete-wise, I think we played to the best of our ability, it's just some games it's not going to go your way, and tonight was one of those. But overall, I don't think today is something that we can hang our head on.”

Colorado forward Artturi Lehkonen left the game at 11:43 of the second after a collision with Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak, causing him to slide headfirst into the boards. The Avalanche said Lehkonen was alert, responsive, and had full movement but was taken to the hospital as a precaution. There was no further update.

“He's obviously one of the toughest guys on the team,” Makar said. “He's hard as a nail, so especially when he doesn't get up you get a little worried because it could be something a little bit more serious. “So, hopefully he's all right. I haven't heard too much yet on him, but hopefully everything goes well because obviously he's a huge part for us.”

NOTES: Bjorkstrand’s go-ahead goal was the latest in regulation in Kraken history, besting the previous mark set by forward Jordan Eberle (42 seconds left on Feb. 11, 2022). … Schwartz extended his point streak to eight games (five goals, six assists). … Seattle forward Shane Wright had one shot on goal in 8:34 of ice time in his season debut; the No. 4 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft was recalled from Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League on Wednesday after Eberle was cut on the upper part of his leg by a skate blade in practice. Eberle is day to day. … Kraken forward Ryan Winterton had one shot on goal in 7:01 of ice time in his NHL debut. … The Avalanche were 0-for-3 on the power play. Seattle has not allowed a power-play goal to them in the past seven games dating back to Jan. 1, 2022.