After defeating the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Kraken knew they had a different kind of opponent in Round 2. The Dallas Stars have an elite defender on the blue line and top line like Colorado, but added in more offensive depth and a top tier goaltender in Jake Oettinger.

The Kraken provided strong answers to Dallas' attack in many facets of the series. Seattle was able to mostly quiet a power play that had three multi-goal performances in Round 1. And at even strength, the depth continued to shine setting new records for the number of skaters who scored at least one goal - a performance that chased Oettinger from the net on two different occasions.

The Kraken knew the task at hand going into this game. If they wanted to keep this season alive, they needed to win. And they brought that goal to reality with a strong start, the first goal, and a lead for all but 16 minutes (and during that time the game was tied).

Once again depth came through with five different skaters scoring, and the team responded in all situations with even-strength goals, a power play tally, and a score that came right after an oppressive penalty kill that stifled Dallas' offense.

Coming into Game 3, the Kraken knew they needed to meet the increased level of will that the Stars had shown in a commanding win in Game 2. With two days of rest behind them, Seattle did exactly that.

In front of a raucous home crowd, the Kraken identity was once again on display. First, there was the depth - seven different skaters each scored a goal in the game. Second, the penalty kill which was once again perfect and added a short-handed goal for their efforts. Third, Philipp Grubauer was excellent in net throughout the game.

The Kraken surprised everyone except those inside the locker room when they defeated the defending Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche in Round One of the playoffs. And now Seattle continues to draw notice battling against a strong Dallas Stars team in Round Two, that has an early 1-1 split between the two teams.

This team is a close-knit group that has understood and believed in what they could do all season long and that has led to all the success it is having. And we wanted to take a look at how that is manifesting on the ice in terms of the Kraken's biggest strengths across the two post-season series thus far.

Let's dig in.

In their first-ever playoff appearance, the Kraken went toe to toe with the defending Stanley Cup Champions and battled through seven games of hockey at breakneck speed to come out with the series win. 

To be clear, this was no fluke. The Kraken employed a formula that's served them well all season: scoring came from throughout the lineup; rush defense was on point; penalty killing was smart and effective; and goaltending provided a backbone for all other areas of the game to perform.

Those who knew what the Kraken are all about knew a series win could be possible, and by playing to their strengths and identity, the newest NHL franchise now advances to the second round to face the Dallas Stars.

There's a reason they say that the deciding win in any playoff series is the hardest to come by. The team that is facing elimination pulls out all the stops and gives all they can to fight another day. And that's what the Colorado Avalanche did in Game 6. After a strong start by the Kraken in the opening period, the visitors rode their star power to control possession. 

Aided by five Seattle penalties that reduced the amount of time the Kraken could be the aggressors, the home team couldn't find a way to battle back after Colorado built a two-goal lead.

Now the series shifts back to Denver for a one-game winner takes all Game 7 on Sunday.

Are you not entertained? The Kraken used a familiar formula to once again earn a win over the defending Stanley Cup champions. It took a little longer this time, but thanks to Morgan Geekie, Seattle scored first just as they have every other game in this series. And while Colorado would answer, an impressive debut by Tye Kartye culminated in a go-ahead goal that would regain the lead, one the Kraken never relinquished. Yanni Gourde put the third tally on the board allowing Seattle to survive a late Avalanche push and get the third win of the series. Throughout the entire contest, Philipp Grubuaer was once again a key ingredient in securing the game's outcome.

Now, the Kraken head home for what could be a series-deciding Game 6. But it will not be easy. The fourth win in a round is the hardest to come by. Colorado will be putting everything on the line and also will be rejoined by Cale Makar who sat out this game after being suspended for a hit that injured Jared McCann.

The Kraken have made every game of this series competitive, and Game 4 was no different - if perhaps one of their best. Through 60-plus minutes of play, Seattle set the tone offensively which limited Colorado's ability to generate a consistent attack. The Kraken once again scored first, and while the Avalanche would fight back to tie the game, the Seattle power play found its way twice including generating the game-winner off Jordan Eberle's stick.

Let's look at the game "by the numbers."

Seattle welcomed NHL playoff hockey back to the city after 104 years and gave fans an entertaining 60 minutes of play. Jaden Schwartz scored the first goal of the game and the first post-season goal in Kraken history 6:08 into play, but Colorado challenged the Seattle power play and gained a period one lead off two short-handed goals.

A two-goal flurry by the Kraken in period two brought the game back to evens, but ultimately Colorado would assert their play in the third and come away with a 6-4 win.

Let's look at the game "by the numbers."

After handing Colorado the first Game 1 loss in their last six series, the Kraken knew they were going to get a big counterstrike by the defending Stanley Cup Champions. It took a while - a long enough time to let a tenacious Seattle attack score twice. But with some new-look lines and defensive pairs, Colorado turned it up in the middle of the game and tied the game 2-2 after 40 minutes of play. They would then add the ultimate game-winner in the final seven minutes of regulation.

Going back to last post-season, the Avalanche have never lost two games in a row.