NHL Playoffs Game 2: Kraken vs Avalanche Prediction, Odds, and Picks (Apr 20)
- Seattle Kraken won their first playoff game in franchise history earlier this week
- Colorado Avalanche looking for instant response
A crucial game in this opening round series between the Seattle Kraken and Colorado Avalanche is set for Thursday. The Avalanche was beaten in the opening game between the sides, and they will be looking to level the series this week before it moves to Seattle.
How To Watch
- When: Thursday, April 20, 2023, at 9:30 p.m ET
- Where: Ball Arena, Colorado
- How To Watch: NHL TV
Odds
| Kraken | Avalanche |
|---|---|
Team News
The Colorado Avalanche and their grip on the Stanley Cup could be loosened on Thursday, as a 2-0 series disadvantage could be crucial ahead of games in Seattle. Colorado was outclassed in their opening game, as they conceded in each of the second and third periods to drop to a 3-1 loss.
The only goal for the Avalanche was scored in the opening period by Mikko Rantanen, and a much better display will be needed against the Kraken on Thursday. Furthermore, there was a clear lack of quality in the final third in that game, and there will be hope that Cale Makar can add some spark to that area in game two.
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It was a coming-of-age performance for the Kraken in game one of this series, and they showed that they have exactly what it takes to perform at this deep end of the season. Many saw their win in game one as one of the big shocks in the playoffs, but there had been glimpses of this performance throughout the regulation season.
Defensively, they were excellent in game one, with Vince Dunn and Adam Larsson combining for seven blocked shots. At the opposite end, the goals were scored by Alexander Wennberg, Eeli Tolvanen, and Morgan Greekie. However, backing up their performance in game one on Thursday will be their biggest challenge.
Picks
Thereโs little doubt that the Avalanche is the best team in the Western Conference, and they have often been able to deliver performances when the pressure has been on them. Therefore, we expect the home side to take game two, but this series is a long way from being over.
Moneyline
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