Avalanche vs Kraken Game 1 Prediction NHL Playoffs 4/18

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Game Preview: Kraken vs. Avalanche - NHL Playoff Opener

The NHL playoffs are just around the corner, and the Seattle Kraken will kick off their postseason journey against the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche, who finished at the top of the Central Division, will host the Kraken for the first game of their Western Conference first-round series. The experts and computers are predicting the Avalanche as heavy favorites with a -194 money line, while the Kraken are +162 underdogs. The over/under is set at 6, and both teams have promising records. In the regular season, the Kraken won two out of the three games they played against the Avalanche, with their last meeting ending in a 3-2 victory for Seattle. However, the postseason is a different ball game, and anything can happen. Both teams boast incredible players poised to make a difference in the playoffs. For the Avalanche, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen have been leading the charge, with 42 goals and 69 assists and seven goals and 11 assists in their last ten games, respectively. For the Kraken, Jared McCann is their top scorer with 40 goals and 30 assists, while Daniel Sprong has been hot lately scoring two goals and five assists in the last ten games. As far as injuries go, the Avalanche's Josh Manson, Darren Helm, Pavel Francouz, Denis Malgin, Gabriel Landeskog, Cale Makar, and Andrew Cogliano are dealing with various injuries. For the Kraken, Martin Jones is day-to-day, Joonas Donskoi is out with an upper-body injury, John Hayden is out for the season with a lower-body injury, and Andre Burakovsky is out with a lower-body injury. All in all, the opening game of the Western Conference first-round series between the Kraken and the Avalanche is set to be an exciting matchup. NHL experts predict that the Avalanche will win, but the playoffs are a different story, and the Kraken might just pull off an upset.

Kraken: Offensive Analysis

The Seattle Kraken will be facing a tough challenge in their upcoming Playoff game against the Colorado Avalanche. Despite their decent overall record of 46-28-8, the Kraken's offense has shown some weaknesses recently. In their last ten games, they have only managed to score an average of 3.6 goals per game, which is not impressive compared to the Avalanche's average of four goals per game. The Kraken's power play percentage of only 17.5% also ranks in at just 22nd in the league, suggesting that they don't have a lot of bite with the man advantage. The Kraken's top performers, Jared McCann and Daniel Sprong, have been productive lately, but it remains to be seen if they can maintain their form against the Avalanche. Without key players like Joonas Donskoi and Andre Burakovsky, the Kraken will also struggle to maintain their offensive momentum. Overall, the Kraken's offense may be outmatched by the Avalanche's strong defensive line and goaltending. NHL picks experts and computer predictions have given the Avalanche the upper hand in this series, and it's not hard to see why. If the Kraken can't step up their offensive game, they may be facing an early exit from the playoffs. Bet wisely and keep up with the NHL experts picks today to see how this matchup plays out.

Kraken: Defensive Analysis

The Seattle Kraken have had a successful inaugural season, earning a spot in the NHL playoffs. As they gear up to face the Colorado Avalanche in the first round, the Kraken's defense will need to be strong to shut down Colorado's offense. Seattle's defense is anchored by defenseman Mark Giordano, who is adept at both defense and offense. With 184 blocked shots and 36 takeaways in the regular season, Giordano will be a key player in shutting down Colorado's top scorers. Joining Giordano on the blue line is Jamie Oleksiak, who at 6'7" brings a physical presence to Seattle's defense. Oleksiak, along with Jeremy Lauzon, will need to use their size and strength to keep Colorado's forwards away from the net. In goal, the Kraken have a solid tandem in Philipp Grubauer and Chris Driedger. Grubauer, who played for the Avalanche last season, has been instrumental in Seattle's success this season with a 2.33 goals against average and a .919 save percentage. Driedger has also been strong in the crease, posting a 2.48 goals against average and a .917 save percentage. The Kraken's goaltenders will need to continue their solid play if they hope to shut down Colorado's potent offense. Overall, the Kraken's defense will need to be at their best if they hope to slow down Colorado's high-scoring offense. If Giordano, Oleksiak, and the rest of the defense can keep Colorado's forwards to the perimeter and Grubauer and Driedger can continue their strong play in net, the Kraken can pull off the upset and advance to the second round of the playoffs.

Avalanche: Offensive Analysis

When it comes to offense, the Colorado Avalanche have been one of the deadliest teams in the NHL this season. With a record of 51-24-7 and a total of 274 goals scored, the Avalanche rank 10th in the league in terms of goals scored per game. Led by superstar Nathan MacKinnon, who has 42 goals and 69 assists on the season, the Avalanche have a potent attack that can overwhelm any team. In their upcoming playoff game against the Seattle Kraken, the Avalanche will need their offense to be firing on all cylinders if they hope to come out on top. Although the Kraken won two of the three regular-season meetings between the two teams, the Avalanche will look to take advantage of their home ice advantage and their potent offense to gain an early edge in the series. In addition to MacKinnon, the Avalanche also boast a number of other top offensive performers, including Mikko Rantanen, who has seven goals and 11 assists in his past 10 games. With players like these leading the way, the Avalanche have the potential to put up big numbers against any opponent. Of course, the Kraken will not be an easy team to beat. With a solid defense and a scoring differential of +37, the Kraken have proven themselves to be a tough opponent all season long. However, if the Avalanche can continue to play at the high level they have been playing at in recent weeks, there is no doubt that they will be a force to be reckoned with in this playoff series. In terms of NHL picks experts, many are predicting that the Avalanche will come out on top in this game and this series. While NHL picks computer and NHL picks em predictions can only go so far, the fact that the Avalanche have been playing so well in recent weeks cannot be ignored. More than just nhl today experts, many fans and analysts alike believe that the Avalanche are one of the best teams in the league right now. As for nhl picks and parlay options, the Avalanche are likely to be a popular choice for bettors in this game. With the over/under set at 6, there is a good chance that this game could turn into a high-scoring affair, which could benefit the Avalanche and their potent offense. Overall, the Avalanche will need to bring their A-game on offense if they hope to come out on top in this playoff series. With their top players firing on all cylinders and a home ice advantage, the Avalanche have all the tools they need to emerge victorious in this matchup. Whether or not they can make it happen remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure - this is going to be an exciting series to watch for fans of both teams.

Avalanche: Defensive Analysis

The Colorado Avalanche have been known for their strong defensive game this season, and they will need to bring that same tenacity to the playoffs, where every goal counts. Led by Norris Trophy finalist Cale Makar, the Avalanche have allowed just 2.4 goals against per game this season, the third-best mark in the league. They also boast the sixth-best penalty kill, killing off 83.1% of penalties. Makar's status for the first game of the playoffs is day-to-day due to a lower-body injury, and his absence would be a significant blow to the Avalanche defense. However, with Samuel Girard and Devon Toews in the lineup, the Avalanche still have a formidable defensive corps. The Avalanche's defensive success can also be attributed to their disciplined play, as they have taken an average of just 6.6 penalty minutes per game, the second-lowest mark in the league. This will be important in the playoffs, where one penalty could change the course of the game. The Seattle Kraken have a strong offensive arsenal, with Jared McCann and Daniel Sprong leading the way. However, the Avalanche have proven to be a tough matchup for the Kraken, holding them to an average of just two goals per game in their three regular-season meetings. Overall, the Avalanche's defensive prowess gives them a significant advantage heading into the playoffs. If they can continue to stifle opposing offenses and play disciplined hockey, they have a great chance of making a deep playoff run. As always, it's important to do your research before making any NHL Picks. 

Injury Report

As the Seattle Kraken and Colorado Avalanche gear up to face each other in the first round of the playoffs, both teams have a few players who are dealing with injuries. For the Avalanche, Josh Manson is out with a lower-body injury, while Darren Helm is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Pavel Francouz is also out with a lower-body injury, and Denis Malgin is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. Gabriel Landeskog is out with a knee injury, and Cale Makar is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Andrew Cogliano is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury. The Kraken are also facing their fair share of injuries. Martin Jones is considered day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, while Joonas Donskoi is out with an upper-body injury. John Hayden is out for the season with a lower-body injury, and Andre Burakovsky is out with a lower-body injury as well. While these injuries may impact the teams' lineups and strategies, both the Avalanche and Kraken have depth and skilled players to step up and contribute in their absence. As always, it's important to keep an eye on injury reports leading up to the game and consult with NHL picks experts, including NHL picks computer models, NHL picks em predictions, and other nhl today experts. 

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