The Kraken made their playoff debut in style, as they defeated the Colorado Avalanche 4-1 in Game 1 of their first round series. Many expected the expansion team to be overwhelmed in their first postseason game, but the Kraken remained calm and collected as they dominated the Avalanche from start to finish. This impressive victory is a testament to the talent and resilience of this up-and-coming team, and suggests that they could have a serious impact on the playoffs this year.
The Seattle Kraken made their Stanley Cup Playoffs debut, leaving the defending champions, the Colorado Avalanche, stunned after a 3-1 victory in Game 1. The Kraken’s speed, depth and structure were highlighted as a key advantage, with their 13 players who managed to score at least 13 goals in the regular season.The result saw Seattle’s reputation as a playoff team confirmed, with the team having seven players with the experience of winning the Cup.
Though originally thought that the Avalanche would have an advantage in the net by starting Alexandar Georgiev over former Avalanche goaltender, Philipp Grubauer, that advantage did not pay off, with Grubauer making 34 saves. Seattle also managed to shut down Colorado’s powerplay, which ranked sixth in the regular season.
Though the Avalanche managed to score one goal, thanks to Nathan MacKinnon’s pass to forward Mikko Rantanen, that was all they could manage. The Seattle Kraken’s second line, consisting of Alex Wennberg and Morgan Geekie, managed to score both their goals, and forward Eeli Tolvanen, pitched in with another to give the Kraken the 3-1 lead.
The Kraken also did well to maintain their structure throughout the game, chipping in with a team effort that impressed their goalie, Philipp Grubauer. Winning game 1 was definitely an accomplishment for Seattle; however, they cannot afford to rest on their laurels, with Game 2 being held at Ball Arena on Thursday.
In conclusion, the Seattle Kraken proved that they belong in the playoffs with an impressive win against the highly-favored Colorado Avalanche in Game 1. Despite being a new team in the league, the Kraken displayed poise and resilience on the ice, earning the respect of many hockey fans around the world. It’s only the beginning of their playoff journey, but the Kraken have already made a statement and shown that they are a force to be reckoned with. We can’t wait to see what they have in store for the rest of the playoffs. Go Kraken!
