Kraken Make NHL History With First-Round Victory Over Avalanche

In just their second year of existence, Seattle knocked off the defending Stanley Cup champions.

The Kraken are cruising into the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs after stunning the reigning champion Avalanche in Sunday’s Game 7 to punch their ticket to the semifinals.

It was a historic series victory for Seattle, who in just their second year of existence as a franchise were able to knock off the defending Stanley Cup champions. 

Per ESPN Stats and Info, it’s the first time in NHL history a team has won its first-ever playoff series when up against the league’s defending champs.

The Kraken entered the series as significant underdogs to dethrone Colorado, but as they’ve done all season long, Seattle defied expectations en route to the series win. 

The Kraken are the first NHL team to win the first-ever series in franchise history against the defending champs. pic.twitter.com/zKEWZd8OAa

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 1, 2023

Additionally, the Kraken are just the second team in Stanley Cup Playoff history to open the scoring in all seven of their games in a playoff series. 

The Kraken finished the 2021-22 regular season with the third-worst record in the league. The young organization made major strides in year two, clinching a playoff berth via the top wild-card spot in the West after going 46-28-8 in the regular season.

Offseason trade acquisition Oliver Bjorkstrand was the hero for the Kraken, scoring both of Seattle’s goals during the 2–1 victory.

Kraken goaltender and former Avalanche All-Star Philipp Grubauer was able to exact revenge against his old squad, just a couple of seasons after they parted ways in free agency following Colorado’s second-round playoff exit in 2020-21. 

The Kraken will face the Stars in the second round of the playoffs, who took down the Wild in six games in their first-round playoff series.