Kraken Shut Down Avalanche in Denver

Seattle's defense stifles Colorado's top scorers in road victory.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 5:04am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game, with fragmented, overlapping shapes in bright blues, greens, and reds representing the players and action on the ice.The Kraken's stifling defense stymies the Avalanche's high-powered offense in a key Western Conference clash.Denver Today

The Seattle Kraken defeated the Colorado Avalanche 3-1 in a key Western Conference matchup on Wednesday night. Seattle's defense was the story of the game, as they were able to shut down Colorado's top scorers Nazem Kadri and Mikko Rantanen, limiting their scoring chances throughout the contest.

Why it matters

The win keeps the Kraken in the hunt for a playoff spot in the tight Western Conference race, while the loss is a setback for the Avalanche who are trying to maintain their position atop the division standings.

The details

Seattle got goals from Jared McCann, Yanni Gourde, and Jordan Eberle, while goaltender Martin Jones made 35 saves to earn the victory. Colorado's lone goal came from Nathan MacKinnon in the third period, but it was not enough to overcome the Kraken's stifling defensive effort.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, April 16, 2026.
  • The Kraken scored the game's first goal at 12:07 of the first period.

The players

Seattle Kraken

The Seattle Kraken are an NHL expansion team that began play in the 2021-22 season.

Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche are an NHL team based in Denver, Colorado that has been in existence since 1972.

Martin Jones

The Kraken's starting goaltender who made 35 saves in the win.

Nazem Kadri

Colorado's top center who was held in check by the Kraken defense.

Mikko Rantanen

Colorado's leading scorer who was also limited by Seattle's defensive effort.

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What they’re saying

“Our guys really bought in defensively tonight and made it tough on their top players. That was the key to the win.”

— Dave Hakstol, Seattle Kraken Head Coach

“We just couldn't generate enough offense against their stifling defense. Credit to them, they played a great game on the road.”

— Jared Bednar, Colorado Avalanche Head Coach

What’s next

The Kraken will look to build on this win as they continue their playoff push, while the Avalanche will try to rebound in their next game.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the Kraken's ability to play a tight defensive game and shut down elite offensive players, a skill that could serve them well as they fight for a postseason berth.