Avalanche vs Kraken Series Odds, Preview, Schedule & Prediction

• The Seattle Kraken make their NHL playoff debut against the Colorado Avalanche in Round 1
• Colorado is heavy favorites in the Avalanche vs Kraken series odds
• Read below for Avalanche vs Kraken series odds, preview & prediction

The Seattle Kraken will make their NHL postseason debut against the Colorado Avalanche in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Avs won the Central Division with 109 points, while the Kraken finished in the first Wild Card spot with 100 points.

Colorado is listed as -180 favorites in the Avalanche vs Kraken series odds. Seattle won two of three regular-season meetings and are available as +155 underdogs to beat the Avalanche.

Let’s analyze the Avalanche vs Kraken odds, preview the series and offer you our official prediction.

Avalanche vs Kraken Series Odds

The Avalanche’s -180 moneyline price means they have 64.3% implied probability to beat the Kraken in Round 1. Seattle’s ‘ +155 underdog price gives them 39% implied probability to win the series.

Considering the Avs are heavily favored to advance, it’s no surprise they also have a much better chance to win it all. Colorado is listed at +700 in the 2023 Stanley Cup odds, while the Kraken are priced at +4000.

Odds as of April 14th at DraftKings Sportsbook. Use the DraftKings promo code to bet on Round 1 of the NHL Playoffs. 

Series Schedule and How to Watch 

The Stanley Cup Playoffs feature best-of-seven series for each round. The Avalanche vs Kraken series begins Tuesday and will be broadcast on ESPN and TBS. Colorado finished with a better regular-season record than Seattle, so they hold home-ice advantage.

Avalanche vs Kraken Series Schedule

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If you want the full NHL Playoff schedule, you can get a printable NHL playoff bracket. 

Colorado Favored in Avalanche vs Kraken Series Odds

Colorado is favored to defeat Seattle in Round 1 in the Wild vs Blues series odds. Jared Bednar’s team won the 2022 Stanley Cup but has been devastated by the injury bug this year. The latest blow to Colorado came Thursday as it was announced captain Gabriel Landeskog would miss the entire playoffs.

Colorado is led by Canadian superstar Nathan MacKinnon, who just posted the first 100-point season of his career. He also finished the regular season inside the top 10 for the Hart Trophy odds. The big concern is the health of 2022 Conn Smythe winner Cale Makar, who is dealing with a lower-body injury. Makar is expected to return for the playoffs, but will he be 100%?

Cale Makar is out of the Avalanche lineup again tonight and there is no timeline for his return, per @kylefredrickson pic.twitter.com/KrUflZqePO

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 6, 2023

It’s hard to get a good gauge on this Colorado team considering all the injuries they’ve dealt with this year. What we do know is they feature several of the key players who contributed to their Stanley Cup win last season, including Mikko Rantanen, who stepped up with a 55-goal campaign this year.

If Makar is anywhere close to 100%, the Avalanche will feature arguably the most dynamic top-four defense core in the playoffs with Makar, Devon Toews, Bowen Byram and Samuel Girard. Josh Manson (lower body) also played an instrumental role in the 2022 Cup run and should return for the playoffs.

Goaltending-wise, the Avalanche will be turning to Alexander Georgiev against the Kraken. Georgiev has never started an NHL playoff game, so this could be his true coming-out party after sitting on the bench for years in New York. The Bulgarian netminder started 61 games for the Avs this year, posting a 39-16-6 record with a .916 save percentage and 2.52 GAA.

Do Kraken Offer Underdog Value?

Seattle is priced as moneyline underdogs in the Avalanche vs Kraken series odds despite winning two of three head-to-head meetings this season. That stat can be a bit deceptive, however, as the last two meetings went to overtime and the other game was also decided by one goal.

Unlike the heavily experienced Avalanche, this will be Seattle’s first-ever appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Kraken will be looking to follow in the footsteps of another recent expansion team, the Vegas Golden Knights, who reached the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season.

WE. ARE. IN.

Your Seattle Kraken are going to the #StanleyCup Playoffs for the first time in franchise history! pic.twitter.com/pMH8mIDmxJ

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) April 7, 2023

The Kraken might not have that explosive superstar like the Avs’ MacKinnon, but they have solid scoring depth. Seattle features three players who have at least 60 points in forwards Jordan Eberle and Jared McCann and defenseman Vince Dunn. Thirteen players have 10 goals or more, the most of any team.

Seattle’s most impactful player in Round 1 might be rookie sensation Matty Beniers, who is the clear favorite in the Calder odds. Beniers is coming off a sensational rookie campaign in which he led all first-year players with 57 points (24 goals).

Seattle is likely going to turn in net to one of Phillipp Grubauer or Martin Jones. While both goalies have notable playoff experience, neither of them owns a save percentage above .900. Seattle’s elite defense gives up the second-fewest shots per game, but there’s no denying that Kraken’s biggest weakness is their goaltending.

Avalanche vs Kraken Series Pick & Prediction

Avalanche vs Kraken could be a bit closer than the 2023 NHL Playoffs series odds suggest. Colorado has a nice edge with home-ice advantage, but keep in mind Seattle has been one of the NHL’s best road teams (26-11-4) this season.

Avalanche vs Kraken Head-to-Head Stats

While Seattle has an offensive edge based on the above metrics, the old saying that “defense wins” championships reigns supreme. It’s hard to feel optimistic about Seattle’s goaltending, especially against a lethal Avalanche power play featuring MacKinnon and Makar.

The NHL Playoffs is often about momentum. Since the start of April, the Avalanche haven’t lost in regulation while the Kraken have picked up three losses inside sixty minutes. This Avalanche team enters the postseason red hot, outscoring teams 28-14 at even strength in the month of April.

Colorado’s head-to-head record against Seattle isn’t overly impressive, but keep in mind this team has rarely been healthy in 2022-23. The Avs have a lethal power play facing a lackluster Seattle penalty kill, plus a clear goaltending edge. Colorado to win the series at -180 is good value in the Avalanche vs Kraken odds given the firepower they possess.

Pick: Avalanche Series Moneyline (-180)