Defending Stanley Cup champions Avalanche get big win in Seattle against Kraken

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Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen scored in a 1:28 span early in the third period and the Colorado Avalanche spoiled Seattle Kraken's first home playoff game with a 6-4 victory Saturday night in Game 3 of the first-round series.

Tied at 3 after a wild first 40 minutes, the defending Stanley Cup champions relied on their best players to take a 2-1 lead in the series and reclaim home-ice advantage.

MacKinnon scored his first two goals of the playoffs, Cale Makar added his first of this postseason after winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of last year’s championship run, and Rantanen scored for the second straight game, capping the victory with an empty-net goal with 2:14 left.

MacKinnon scored on a breakaway late in the first period to give Colorado a 2-1 lead. His second goal was even better, taking advantage of Seattle’s fourth line getting stuck on the ice and ripping a wrist shot past Seattle goalie Philipp Grubauer for a 5-3 lead.

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Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates his goal against the Seattle Kraken during the first period in Game Three of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Climate Pledge Arena on April 22, 2023, in Seattle, Washington.  (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

MacKinnon’s second goal came moments after Rantanen finished off a 3-on-2 rush and silenced fans in a frenzy after Seattle’s second-period rally.

J.T. Compher scored short-handed in the first period and Makar’s goal at 4:33 of the second period gave the Avalanche a 3-1 lead. Makar’s goal came off a clean faceoff win by Colorado and left Seattle’s fans murmuring