Kraken vs. Avalanche Game 7 Odds
| Kraken Odds | +176 |
| Avalanche Odds | -215 |
| Over/Under | 5.5 (-118/-104) |
| Time | 9:30 ET |
| TV | TNT |
| Odds via FanDuel. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
The Colorado Avalanche continue their quest to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions when they return to Ball Arena for a Game 7 date with the Seattle Kraken on Sunday.
With an opportunity to make history as the first team to dethrone a defending champion in their first-ever playoff series, the Kraken couldn't finish the job at Climate Pledge Arena on Friday night. The Avalanche played what they called their best game of the series on their way to a 4-1 victory, leveling the best-of-seven series at 3-3.
Which side will punch its ticket to Round 2 on Sunday? Here's the latest on both teams, and your best bet for Kraken vs. Avalanche Game 7.
Seattle Kraken
The Kraken finished just nine points behind the Avalanche in the regular-season standings and actually had more regulation wins (37 vs. 36). Nevertheless, the upstart vs. champion matchup made the Kraken heavy underdogs in their first playoff series in franchise history.
By pushing the Avalanche to Game 7, they've already surpassed the expectations that were placed on them, so they should be a loose group with a chance of a lifetime to pull a massive upset. And while the Kraken as an organization is new, their roster is rich with players who have won Stanley Cup rings with other organizations.
Despite its inexperience as a franchise, the stage in Denver should not be too big for Seattle. And while the goaltending stats through the first six games are almost dead even between Seattle's Philipp Grubauer and Colorado's Alexandar Georgiev, it wouldn't be a stretch to think that the former Av, Grubauer, who played his best hockey with Colorado, could be carrying just a little extra motivation.
As of Saturday evening, there was nothing new on the injury front for Seattle. Jared McCann remains listed as day to day after being knocked out of Game 4 on a late hit into the glass by Cale Makar.
Colorado Avalanche
The Avs' three wins came in games where they scored at least three goals. Game 6 was their most decisive victory to date, and Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon got some help on offense.
While those two players are still driving the bus, the Avs got some much-needed secondary scoring on Friday night. Stay-at-home defenseman Erik Johnson was credited with what proved to be the game-winning goal. Artturi Lehkonen chipped in his second and third of the playoffs as insurance markers. And Devon Toews added three more assists to bring his total to eight points in six games.
In lineup news, Colorado coach Jared Bednar informed the media that steady defenseman Josh Manson will continue to be unavailable for Game 7 after being knocked out of Game 5 with an undisclosed injury. Depth forward Darren Helm also remains on the sidelines, and Valeri Nichushkin continues to be away from the team for personal reasons.
On Saturday evening, it was reported that even though he returned to Game 6 after being hit into the boards by Seattle's Jordan Eberle, rugged Andrew Cogliano was diagnosed with a neck fracture. He will be held out of Colorado's lineup indefinitely.
Kraken vs. Avalanche Pick
Special teams haven't been much of an issue in this series, but there have been quite a few penalties called. That disrupts the opportunities coaches have to build a rhythm at 5-on-5. Dave Hakstol admitted that was an issue for the Kraken in Game 6, when the club generated just two high-danger scoring chances in the final 40 minutes of the game.
Hakstol will need to find a way to make adjustments against Colorado's team defense in order to give the Kraken a chance to prevail.
The news of Cogliano's neck injury also ratchets up the emotion in a series that was already impacted by Makar's uncharacteristic hit on McCann, which earned him a one-game suspension in Game 5. Eberle received only a minor penalty for hitting Cogliano, who has built a reputation as one of the most durable players in the league.
The winner-take-all stakes of Game 7 should keep players focused on the task at hand rather than revenge. But strange things can happen when emotions run hot in high-pressure situations.
For bettors, that makes handicapping this game a challenge. But with a moneyline of -215, oddsmakers are giving the Avalanche a better-than-68% chance of victory. By reputation, that's understandable. But based on how evenly this series has been played and how the momentum has swung back and forth, that leaves some value on the Seattle side of the equation.
At +176, there's plenty of incentive to back the Kraken for the upset — and enjoy your spoils if Seattle makes history on Sunday.
Pick: Kraken ML (+176 | Play to +160) |
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