Fansided

3 Keys to Victory for Seattle Kraken at Colorado Avalanche

By Chris Donovan |
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 26: Alexandar Georgiev #40 of the Colorado Avalanche saves a shot on goal by Eeli Tolvanen #20 of the Seattle Kraken in the third period during Game Five of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 26, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 26: Alexandar Georgiev #40 of the Colorado Avalanche saves a shot on goal by Eeli Tolvanen #20 of the Seattle Kraken in the third period during Game Five of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 26, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Here we go! Seattle Kraken (4-6-3) and Colorado Avalanche (8-3-0), I view this as a rivalry game. I personally hate the Colorado Avalanche, like a lot. Everything from their colors, to their horrible fans drive me nuts. I do have a lot of respect for their coaching staff and what they do. Jared Bednar is a great coach, as well as Nolan Pratt and Toby Petersen. Cale Makar is in the ‘top player on the planet’ conversation. In fact, I think that group is a party of 2 (Connor McDavid).

The Seattle Kraken are 3-3-1 all-time against Colorado, not including upsetting them in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs last season. Philip Grubauer typically brings his A-game when these two teams clash, and if the Kraken are going to stand a realistic chance, he will need to do so tonight as well. Let’s take a look at the 3 Keys to Victory for Seattle Kraken at Colorado Avalanche.

Seattle goalie Philip Grubauer needs to dominate

Kraken goalie Philip Grubauer needs to be the best player on the planet tonight if the Kraken are going to win, thus this being the first key to victory. The Kraken struggle to score goals, the Avalanche do not. How do you win in a matchup like this? You shut the other team out. Grubauer needs to be lights out tonight. Gru is 4-3-1 all-time versus Colorado, and typically plays well against his former squad.

The single biggest factor in this matchup is going to be the play of Grubauer. He unfortunately has the burden of carrying this team of underachievers, and probably has a little saddle rash. Tonight if we see Gru shutout the Avs, the Kraken will win. If Gru allows a couple of gimmies, it will be game over for Seattle.

Seattle’s Matty Beniers gets going early

The second key to victory lies on the shoulders of Kraken star Matty Beniers. It is not secret that our boy is struggling a little this season. He does have three assists in his past 2 games, but has yet to register a goal. Tonight if the Kraken are going to win, he needs to be the top end scoring that the team desperately needs.

Last season, Beniers was a scary, two-way threat at center, who at times carried the team. This season he has been mostly MIA. I would love to see him bury a goal or two tonight and get the monkey off of his back. If Beniers scores 2 goals tonight, Seattle wins this one. If Beniers stays off of the scoresheet, we will most likely see more of the same results.

Kraken’s Vince Dunn needs to get it Dunn

This feels like a Vince Dunn game doesn’t it? The Kraken in need of scoring should lean on their top player Vince Dunn. Not only is Dunn a top end defensive d-man, but he is one of the team’s top scoring threats. With the team massively struggling in so many areas this season, the Kraken need to get some offense from Dunn.

On the season Dunn has scored 2 goals, has 8 assists, and 10 points in 13 games. He is worth every penny of his new contract. Tonight the Kraken needs him to get the scoring going, he essentially needs to get it ‘Dunn’ for the Kraken to get a dub in Denver.

The Kraken and Avalanche series has been a fun one to watch and tonight these two teams will continue the saga. This should be a much different game than how last season’s matches went, as the Kraken are clearly a different team. If Seattle cannot get their offense going early and get strong goaltending from Grubauer it will be tough one to watch as the Avalanche are one of the favorites to win the Cup (and they are playing like it). The puck drops at 6:00 PM PST from Denver, Colorado. Let’s go boys, get a win tonight!

Fear the deep!

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