There were many “firsts” for the Seattle Kraken in their post-season debut: first playoff goal for the franchise (and answer to a future trivia question) — Eeli Tolvanen; first playoff penalty — Will Borgen; and, above all, their first playoff win.
Alex Wennberg on Tuesday had a goal and an assist, and Philipp Grubauer stopped 34 shots in beating the defending Stanley Cup champions the Colorado Avalanche 3-1.
The second-year Kraken became the 13th expansion franchise to earn a win in their first post-season game, NHL Stats data showed.
Photo: AP
“Obviously, we played a good game, getting the first franchise win in the playoffs, but right now this is Game 1,” Wennberg said. “Obviously, we are happy about this performance, but we’ve got to do it again and do it again.”
Grubauer was sharp all night against his former team.
He frustrated Colorado’s top scorers with one big save after another, while his defense helped neutralize the Avalanche’s blazing speed.
“It’s definitely a weird feeling coming back, but also really familiar,” said Grubauer, who spent three seasons with the Avalanche before leaving for Seattle prior to last season. “There’s nothing better than playing against your old team in the playoffs.”
Nathan MacKinnon did not mince words when asked what he saw out of Grubauer.
“Nothing,” the Colorado forward said.
In Nevada, Winnipeg Jets forward Morgan Barron took a skate to his face, requiring more than 75 stitches, but returned to the ice less than a period later.
He was injured in the first period during a big scramble in front of the Vegas Golden Knights’ net in Game 1 of the teams’ Western Conference first-round series, which Winnipeg won 5-1.
As players collapsed around the front of the net in pursuit of a loose puck, Vegas goalie Laurent Brossoit’s skate cut Barron.
“I was trying to figure out if the puck went in because it was pretty close,” Barron said. “I saw the skate coming. It was an unlucky play. The first thought was that I could see out of the [right] eye was the main thing.”
Barron immediately went to the Jets’ locker room, but returned in the second period wearing a full cage on his head.
“Looks like he got attacked by a shark,” center Adam Lowry said. “It’s a scary thing. We’re all so worried about the puck crossing the line, and all of the sudden we see a trail of blood all the way from the crease to the bench.”
Jets coach Rick Bowness said he was not surprised Barron re-entered the game and even marveled that he did not hesitate to get physical.
“I think more his presence coming back, because we all realized how bad it was, and that gave everyone a big boost,” Bowness said.
Elsewhere, the Tampa Bay Lightning routed the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-3 and the New York Rangers beat the New Jersey Devils 5-1.
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