Seattle Kraken Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 3
The Seattle Kraken faceoff tonight against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Colorado came away with a 3-2 victory in what had to have felt like a must win game for the defending Cup champs. The Avs finally found their game after a Kraken dominated first period and never looked back. Seattle is still viewed as the underdog in this series in spite of the fact that they technically have the advantage after returning home with a win on the road.
As the Kraken set their sights on the first ever playoff game at Climate Pledge Arena, the focus is on Jared McCann. After scoring 40 goals , 30 assists and 70 points in the regular season (led the team in both goals and points), McCann has zero points and is -1 in the two postseason games.
Not to sounds like Stephen A. Smith, but McCann has ‘got to get it done’.
If the Kraken are going to beat the Avalanche tonight they will need Jared McCann to light the lamp. McCann has one of the best wrist shots in the NHL. When I see his lightning quick release and pinpoint accuracy it reminds me of former Avalanche captain and Hockey Hall of Famer Joe Sakic.
I know that statement is huge and I hope that this comparison boils the blood of Avs fans. I am not saying that McCann is close to the player Sakic was, but I am saying his shot is almost identical.
The Seattle Kraken’s top regular season scorers have all been scoreless so far this post season. In fact, only two of the Kraken’s top 10 regular season scorers have registered a point this postseason (Alex Wennberg with 1 goal/1 assist, and Jaden Schwartz with 1 assist). This has got to change.
To be fair, the team is playing the defending Cup champs. If the Kraken are going to get out of the first round the team needs to do the things that got them this far. Jared McCann, Vince Dunn, Jordan Eberle, Matty Beniers, Yanni Gourde, Daniel Sprong, and Oliver Bjorkstrand need to score.
I am not saying all of them are going to score in Game 3 (that would be awesome), but these are the guys that have got to find the back of the net.
If the Kraken keep relying on goals from depth players, this could get ugly, and fast.
Lets look at Game 3.
The Kraken win if…
they get the scoring going early. I know, I know, Game 2 started off fast and then Colorado found their game. The Kraken have out played the Avs in 4 or the 6 period of hockey this postseason. If they are going to win Game 3, they need to put Colorado on their heels right away.
McCann and Dunn have a game (so to speak). The Kraken’s top two leading scorers have been scoreless so far this postseason. That is not how winning teams get it done. The Kraken’s best players have to be the best players on the ice tonight.
Grubauer continues to dominate. He has been spectacular through two games. If the team is going to beat this powerhouse, Gru will need to have a hand in this. Revenge series is in his hands.
they do the things that got them here. The team has speed, great coaching, and the toughest forecheck in the NHL. They need to stay true to what makes them special.
The Avalanche win if…
Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Mikko Rantanen dominate. I know I sound like a broken record, but these three can carry the Avalanche to a Cup repeat. The Kraken need to continue to limit their success and put the pressure on the Avs’ supporting cast. If these three get hot, watch out.
Alexandar Georgiev outplays Grubauer. He is not better than Gru, but if he plays lights out, its lights out for the Kraken. Georgiev had a solid Game 2 (after the first period) and the Avs will need him to continue to play well tonight. On a side note, I think he has the most annoying surname in the NHL. It’s pretty cringy when the announcers butcher his name. Lol
they shut out the Kraken’s top line. The Avs have done an excellent job of making Seattle manufacture goals the hard way, even with them being outplayed majority of this series. How long can the Kraken keep it up? If Colorado continues to slow down McCann, Eberle, and Beniers Game 3 could get messy.
I expect this game to open up a bit and the scoring to be higher than the first two games. The teams should be finished with the ‘feeling out’ stage of the series. Expect a higher scoring game. The Avs have the advantage in the coaching department, but the Kraken are the better overall team (depth, scorers, and goaltending). Expect a fast game
The puck drops tonight at 7pm PT.
‘McCann has got to get it done!‘
Fear the deep!