The defending Stanley Cup Champions are sitting in unfamiliar territory, on the brink of elimination with this series heading back to Seattle for Game 6.
The Seattle Kraken have been the better team in this series, simple as that.
However, the Colorado Avalanche will definitely benefit from having Cale Makar back in the lineup after missing game five due to a suspension.
Even though the Kraken have all the momentum on their side, I’m not counting the Avs out of this series just yet.
Find out my best bet in our free NHL picks and predictions for Avalanche vs. Kraken on April 28.
Avalanche vs Kraken Game 6 odds
Avalanche vs Kraken series odds
| Team | To win | Win in 6 | Win in 7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avalanche | +145 | +125 | +370 |
| Kraken | -170 | N/A | +145 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings as of April 28
Avalanche vs Kraken Game 6 predictions
This series has been an absolutely wild one, to say the least. There weren’t a ton of people giving the Seattle Kraken a chance, considering that this is the first playoff series in franchise history — and it happens to be against the defending Stanley Cup champions.
The difference for Seattle in this series has been the play of Phillipp Grubauer. The Kraken didn’t get the most consistent goaltending during the regular season, but Grubauer has been nothing short of incredible in this series, with a .918 save percentage and a 2.61 goals against average.
The biggest impact has been the failure on the power play for the Avalanche. To this point, the Avs are converting at just 8.3% on the man advantage after being at 24.5% in the regular season. They have scored one power play goal on 12 attempts in the series.
Even with the lack of success we re seeing from Colorado, I have to imagine that with Cale Makar returning to the lineup tonight, this group will have an extra jump. Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen are still playing well enough to help their team make a comeback in the series.
I will take my chances with a desperate Colorado team, but I also want the best value. I think the Avs force a Game 7 and I can see them taking this one in regulation.
My best bet: Colorado Avalanche three-way (+100 at BetMGM)
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Avalanche vs Kraken Game 6 moneyline analysis
This series has been a surprise to most people, but this is the Seattle Kraken team that we watched all year long, the only difference now is that the goaltending is way more consistent.
For whatever reason, the road team seems to have success whenever these two teams face one another, at 6-2 in the last eight meetings. The pressure might appear to be on the Avalanche tonight, and don’t get me wrong they definitely have pressure with their backs against the wall, but there is also a ton of pressure for Seattle. The Kraken know that they have a chance to close out this series on home ice and they don’t want to let that opportunity slip away.
Both teams have been relatively even at 5-on-5 in this series. The key for the Avalanche is scoring the first goal in this game, so they don’t need to claw their way back like in Game 5.
Alexandar Georgiev hasn’t been as good as Grubauer, but he has certainly kept his team in every game. I don’t expect the Avalanche to make this easy on the Kraken. Colorado will have a ton of fight in them.
Avalanche vs Kraken Game 6 Over/Under analysis
The Under continues to be a trend in this series, hitting in four out of the five games thus far.
Both special teams are underperforming immensely. The Kraken’s power play is at 16.7%, with the Avalanche at a horrendous 8.3%.
As a team, the Kraken are averaging 3.00 goals per game in the playoffs, while the Avalanche are scoring 2.80 goals per game. Together, these teams are averaging fewer than six goals which is what the Over/Under happens to be for this game.
In an elimination game, the defense always tightens up. I expect another low-scoring game tonight.
Avalanche vs Kraken betting trend to know
The road team is 6-2 in the last eight meetings. Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs Kraken.
Avalanche vs Kraken Game 6 game info
| Location: | Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA |
| Date: | Friday, April 28, 2023 |
| Puck drop: | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | TNT |
