Avalanche vs Kraken Game 2 Prediction NHL Playoffs Pick 4/20

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Game Preview: Kraken vs Avalanche - NHL Experts Picks and Predictions

The Kraken hold a 1-0 series lead as they visit the Avalanche in Denver for their fifth meeting this season on Thursday, April 20, 2023. NHL picks experts, NHL picks computer, NHL picks em predictions, NHL today experts, NHL picks and parlay, and NHL experts picks today are all buzzing with anticipation for what could be an exciting match-up on the ice. The Avalanche enter the game as favorites with odds of -204, while the Kraken sit at +171. The over/under is set at 6. NHL picks with spread, NHL predictions today, and NHL picks for today are all predicting a tight game between these two teams. The Kraken are on a roll with a 7-3-0 record in their last ten games, while the Avalanche have an impressive record of 7-2-1 in their last ten games. This sets up for an exciting game with both teams trying to show their dominance on the ice. Injuries from both teams could impact the outcome of the game, including top players like Gabriel Landeskog and Joonas Donskoi. NHL picks odds, NHL picks and parlays, and NHL experts picks today all have to take into account the injuries of these players when predicting the game. Overall, this game promises to be a thrilling match-up, and NHL experts picks are split on who will come out on top. We'll have to tune in on Thursday to see who comes out with the win.

Kraken: Offensive Analysis

The Kraken have been one of the top offensive teams in the league this season and it has shown in the playoffs so far. They dominated the Avalanche in the opening game of the series, winning 3-1. The Kraken have been averaging 3.8 goals per game in their last 10 games and they will look to continue that trend in this game against the Avalanche. Vince Dunn has been a key player for the Kraken this season, scoring 14 goals and recording 50 assists. He has been a force on the blue line and has helped the Kraken generate a lot of offense from their defensive end. Jared McCann has also been in great form lately, scoring five goals and recording six assists in his last 10 games. The Kraken have one of the best power plays in the league and they will look to take advantage of that in this game. They have converted on 20.3% of their power play opportunities this season and they will look to increase that percentage in this game. The Avalanche will be without Josh Manson, Darren Helm, Pavel Francouz, Gabriel Landeskog, and Andrew Cogliano, which could give the Kraken an advantage on the power play. In conclusion, the Kraken have a strong offense and they will look to use that to their advantage in this game against the Avalanche. They have been in great form lately and they will look to continue that trend in this important playoff game. NHL picks experts and computer NHL picks EM predictions favor the Kraken in this game and they could be a good option for those looking for NHL picks and parlays or NHL picks with spread.

Kraken: Defensive Analysis

As the Seattle Kraken visit the Colorado Avalanche with a 1-0 lead in the series, the defensive strategy will be crucial for the Kraken to maintain their advantage. In the previous matchup, the Kraken won 3-1, indicating that their defensive skills were on point. The Kraken has gone 27-11-4 on the road, indicating that the team's defense is solid in a challenging environment. The team is averaging 1.9 goals per game, giving up points only to excellent attacking sides. With the Avalanche being one of the strongest offensive teams in the league, the Kraken's defense will play a crucial role in deciding the outcome. The team's defensive strategy should focus on shutting down Artturi Lehkonen, who has scored 21 goals with 30 assists for the Avalanche. The Kraken's defense should be prepared to tackle Lehkonen's swift and efficient attacking moves. Additionally, the Kraken's defense should look to contain Nathan MacKinnon, who has scored 10 goals and seven assists in the last ten games. MacKinnon is known for his sharp-shooting skills and excellent vision, making it essential for the defense to stay alert and maintain a tight marking. The Kraken's defense has been exceptional in the last ten games, averaging only 1.9 goals per game. The team has allowed only the best teams to score against them, making it evident that their defense is reliable. Injuries to Joonas Donskoi and Andre Burakovsky have created gaps in the Kraken's defense. However, the team's defense has shown tremendous initiative in closing down these gaps. Overall, the Kraken's defense has the potential to outsmart the Avalanche's offense and maintain their series lead. As the game progresses, the team should stay sharp in their defensive moves, avoid making any mistakes, and thwart the Avalanche's attacking moves.

Avalanche Offense Analysis:

The Avalanche will need to bring their A-game on offense in order to even up the series against the Kraken. With a 1-0 deficit, the Avalanche will rely heavily on their top scorers, including Artturi Lehkonen and Nathan MacKinnon, to deliver their best performance yet. Both players have been consistent throughout the regular season and are expected to step up their game in this crucial matchup. The Kraken, on the other hand, have been dominating on offense with Vince Dunn and Jared McCann leading the way. Dunn has been excellent on the blue line with 50 assists, while McCann has been making waves with his five goals and six assists over the last 10 games. It will be a tough challenge for the Avalanche defense to contain these two players. However, the Avalanche have been solid on the power-play, and this could be a key factor in their success. They have a 23-10-2 record when scoring a power-play goal, and they will need to capitalize on every opportunity they get. The Kraken will need to be careful not to give away any power-play chances to the Avalanche, as it could be their undoing. In terms of NHL picks, experts and computer predictions are placing the Avalanche as the favorites for this game. The Avalanche are listed at -204, while the Kraken are at +171, with the over/under set at 6. With expert picks and NHL picks for today favoring the Avalanche, this is their game to lose. Overall, the Avalanche offense will need to fire on all cylinders if they want to even up the series against the Kraken. They have the talent and the firepower to do so, but they will need to work hard and capitalize on every opportunity they get. The Kraken, on the other hand, will need to stay focused and not give the Avalanche any chances to get back into the game. It should be an intense matchup, with the best NHL bets today favoring the Avalanche to come out on top.

Defensive Analysis: Avalanche Pregame

The Colorado Avalanche have a tough task ahead of them as they try to even the series against the Seattle Kraken. The Avalanche have a solid defense, but they will need to shore up their performance if they want to come away with a win in this game. In their last matchup, the Avalanche allowed the Kraken to score three goals. This is a concerning statistic for a team that prides itself on its defensive prowess. If the Avalanche are going to win this game, they will need to tighten up their defense and prevent the Kraken from getting too many scoring opportunities. Thankfully for the Avalanche, they have some top performers on their roster. Artturi Lehkonen has scored 21 goals with 30 assists this season, and he will need to be a key player in this game. Additionally, Nathan MacKinnon has been on fire lately, with 10 goals and seven assists over the last 10 games. If these two players can continue their strong performances, the Avalanche will have a good chance at winning this game. In terms of injuries, the Avalanche will need to play without Gabriel Landeskog, who is out with a knee injury. This is a significant loss for the team, as Landeskog is one of their top players. However, the Avalanche have depth on their roster, and they should be able to compensate for his absence. Overall, there are some concerns about the Avalanche's defensive performance heading into this game. However, if they can tighten up their defense and rely on their top performers, they should be able to come away with a win against the Kraken. 

Injury Report

Injuries are always a factor in any playoff series, and both the Kraken and the Avalanche have players who are dealing with various issues. For the Avalanche, Josh Manson, Darren Helm, and Pavel Francouz are all dealing with lower-body injuries and are expected to miss the entire series. Captain Gabriel Landeskog is also out with a knee injury, while Andrew Cogliano is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. On the Kraken side, Joonas Donskoi is out with an upper-body injury, while John Hayden will miss the rest of the season with a lower-body injury. Andre Burakovsky is also dealing with a lower-body injury but his status for the rest of the series is unclear. These injuries could have a significant impact on the series, as both teams will need to rely on their depth to make up for the missing players. It will be interesting to see how the coaches adjust their lineups and strategies to compensate for their injured players. Overall, the Avalanche seem to have the worst injury luck heading into this series, with several key players out for the entire series. The Kraken, while not injury-free, seem to have a slightly better outlook in terms of player availability. However, injuries can always be unpredictable, and it will be up to both teams to adapt and overcome any challenges that may arise.

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