Avalanche defeat Kraken in shootout for 5th straight win

SEATTLE --Pavel Francouz made 26 saves and stopped all three attempts in the shootout for the Colorado Avalanche in a 2-1 win against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday.

Alex Newhook scored, and Nathan MacKinnon had the only goal in the shootout for Colorado (25-17-3), which has won five in a row, including 4-1 at the Vancouver Canucks on Friday.
"Hard checking both ways," Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen said. "Both 'D' were defending well, not a lot of chances out there, and that's pretty much what playoff games look like. Came through even though it was a second game with a back to back, so really big one."
Ryan Donato scored for Seattle (27-14-5), which has lost three of four. Philipp Grubauer made 26 saves.
"It was a battle. We were in a battle for 65-plus minutes with the shootout," Kraken coach Dave Hakstol said. "Obviously, it's disappointing when you don't win in the shootout and get the extra point. In terms of our effort, our work level with battle was good throughout the hockey game. You'd like to be able to execute a little better in a couple of situations, but hey, it was that type of hockey game all the way through."

Newhook gave the Avalanche a 1-0 lead at 8:18 of the second period, scoring on a rebound from the bottom of the right circle after Grubauer couldn't handle Jacob MacDonald's shot from the right point.
"It was a good hockey game. I mean, first in the Pacific, Seattle is playing really well," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. "We've been playing really well lately. I like the way we played tonight. Effort wise, we did a lot of good things on a back to back. I'm pretty proud of our guys coming in here facing a tough team and fighting it out to the bitter end. An evenly matched game, obviously. Fitting that it goes to a shootout. I thought both goalies were really good."
Donato responded to tie it 1-1 at 9:26, beating Francouz five-hole from the top of the right circle following a giveaway by Samuel Girard along the boards.
"I think those games are fun to play in," Grubauer said. "They did a really good job in their [defensive] zone shutting us down, and so did we. Just a battle all over the ice. One mistake, and it could have gone the other way."

Although the Kraken held the puck for almost the entire overtime period, the Avalanche had the best chance to win the game when Girard skated in on a breakaway at 1:59, but his chance went wide of the net.
"It was a fun game, fun game to be part of," Rantanen said. "Physical game, you know, not a lot of room out there, so have to give it to them. They're a really, really good team. We haven't seen them in 40 games or so. They're playing good hockey."
NOTES:Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar skated in warmups but did not play. He's missed three straight games with an undisclosed injury. … MacKinnon had his point streak end at seven games. … Donato has six points (three goals, three assists) in his past five games. … Seattle defenseman Vince Dunn had his nine-game point streak end.