It used to be that expansion franchises had difficulty finding success in professional sports for at least five years. However, debuting franchises have found succession in the past ten seasons when it comes to NHL teams.
While the Seattle Kraken have a long way to go to reach the Stanley Cup, they made waves in their first-ever playoff game by beating the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche on the road.
Meanwhile, the Avalanche haven’t been quite as sharp as they were last season during a dominant run to the Stanley Cup. Colorado did end up comfortably qualifying for the playoffs but has shown it is vulnerable.
People making Kraken vs Avalanche predictions must weigh if Game 1 was a fluke or if the second-year Kraken is ready for the bright lights of the playoffs.
Seattle Kraken vs. Colorado Avalanche Odds
Anyone looking to make NHL predictions will see that Colorado is a healthy favorite to even the series.
Moneyline: The Avalanche are a -220 favorite to win. Seattle is +185 on the moneyline.
Over/Under: The over/under is at six goals.
Seattle Kraken vs. Colorado Avalanche Information
Seattle Kraken vs Colorado Avalanche
Location of the Game: Ball Arena, Colorado.
Date and Time: Thursday, April 20, 2023, 9:38 p.m. ET.
How to Watch: ESPN
Seattle Kraken vs. Colorado Avalanche Betting Preview
Kraken
Seattle wanted to try and make Game 1 into a more physical game on the NHL schedule. The Kraken outhit the Avalanche 40-29 in the series opener and wanted to make sure they limited Colorado’s high-quality scoring chances. Despite playing a more aggressive brand of hockey, the Kraken ended up having a slight 3-2 edge in power-play opportunities.
Anyone looking to making Kraken vs Avalanche predictions will see that Seattle got an excellent performance from Philipp Grubauer in Game 1. NHL player stats show Grubauer stopped 34 shots. The Kraken became the 13th expansion franchise to win their first playoff game.
Seattle’s last four games have gone under the total. Dating back to the regular season, Seattle has won six of its past eight games.
Avalanche
Colorado hadn’t done much losing in the first round recently. The loss for the Avalanche stopped a streak of 10 straight first-round wins. Colorado’s NHL Stanley Cup odds were always high, in part thanks to the dominance it had shown in the first round.
NHL stats shows that Mikko Rantanen scored the Avalanche’s only goal in Game 1. An extended scoring drought for Colorado is unlikely. The Avalanche have scored four or more goals in seven of their past nine games. People making Kraken vs Avalanche predictions will see Colorado also as a strong defensive team, only allowing 2.72 goals per game.
Seattle Kraken vs. Colorado Avalanche Betting Picks
NHL team stats show this game is likely to be on the low-scoring side again. During the team’s three meetings in the regular season, each of the meetings produced five or fewer goals. With each team tightening things up in the playoffs, that trend should continue.
This is an important game for Colorado. A loss could set the Avalanche up to head to Seattle down 2-0 in what should be an energized crowd at Climat Pledge Arena, eager to celebrate being in the playoffs for the first time.
The Avalanche don’t want to figure out how to dig out of a 2-0 hole this early into a defense of their first Stanley Cup title in 20 years. Colorado should find a way to win.
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