3 Game Essentials | Kraken (35-21-6) at Avalanche (34-21-5) | 6 p.m.

DENVER - It's not unusual for NHL players to be excited about welcoming new teammates acquired at the league's trade deadline. But, by all accounts, the Kraken locker room is even more thrilled that GM Ron Francis is giving this roster the "deserved" chance to stick together, welcome Andre Burakovsky back, and make a run for the postseason.
Francis notes there are "eight new faces" boosting the roster since last summer, including the early February acquisition, defenseman Jaycob Megna. But Francis says he is confident in his players (and potential reinforcements called up from AHL affiliate Coachella Valley).

"It's a great vibe in the locker room]," said Alex Wennberg, who scored the game-winner Friday against the team that drafted him. "Every [trade deadline] you think something's gonna happen, you think nothing's gonna happen. You never really know. But now I think it's just great for this group ... Now we know this is the group, we've got to step in and do everything together."
[Watch: Youtube Video
Andre Burakovsky will miss his 13th straight game Sunday as the Kraken take the ice against summer free agent signee's former Colorado teammates who all won the Stanley Cup together last June. GM Ron Francis said during his post-trade deadline press conference that Burakovsky has been working hard in the gym and skated for the first time Friday. Francis said in late February that the former leading scorer could be back in two weeks or mid-March.
In Burakovsky's absence, Seattle's deep and balanced scoring has paid dividends. Jared McCann (now with 30 goals) has logged two five-game point streaks without Burakovsky in the mix, including a current run of four goals and two assists on this road trip. Linemate Jordan Eberle has four goals and eight assists in the last 10 games and leads the team in scoring with 50 points.
After missing five games due to concussion protocol, young superstar defenseman Cale Makar returned to play for the Avalanche against Central Division and Western Conference leader Dallas Saturday in the Big "D." It didn't stop the Stars from building a 5-1 lead after two periods, cruising to a 7-3 victory (note: Dallas visits Climate Pledge Arena twice next week in three days. Next Saturday and March 13).
Colorado has fended off numerous injuries this season and still stands third in the Central, fighting with Winnipeg for the guaranteed spot in the playoffs. The Avalanche are clearly in the wild-card hunt as well. It's a dangerous lineup topped by Nathan MacKinnon (73 points) and Mikko Rantanen (41 goals and 72 total points), plus Makar, who has 45 points in 47 and averages 26 minutes of time on ice per game.
Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer will start in the SEA net against his former teammates. With Pavel Francouz out with injury until mid-March, Colorado coach Jared Bednar goes back No. 1 goalie Alexandar Georgiev, who was pulled from Saturday's 7-3 loss in Dallas but still has 26 wins with a .919 save percentage.