March 12, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Colorado Avalanche forward Joel Kiviranta (94) skates with Seattle Kraken forward Chandler Stevenson (9) during the second period at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Image Nathan MacKinnon scored his NHL-leading 44th goal of the season and added three assists as the Colorado Avalanche swept the host Seattle Kraken 5-1 on Thursday night.
Martin Necas had a goal and an assist, Nicolas Roy, Nazem Kadri and Joel Chiviranta also scored and Devon Toews added two assists for the league-leading Avalanche, who have won six of their last seven games. Goaltender Scott Wedgewood made 28 saves.
Ryker Evans scored for Seattle, which ended a six-game homestand with four straight losses and was eliminated from the Western Conference’s second and final wild-card playoff spot. Joey Daccord was pulled after allowing three goals on 15 shots in the first period, while Philipp Grubauer stopped nine of 11 the rest of the way.
Necas opened the scoring 3:45 into the game by taking a nice cross-slot pass from MacKinnon and lifting a shot over the sprawling Daccord in the top right corner of the crease.
MacKinnon scored on an error at 12:54 when his pass intended for Kadri went off Kraken defenseman Adam Larsson’s skate and into the net.
The Avalanche made it 3-0 on a power play goal by Roy at 18:48. MacKinnon passed to Brock Nelson in the high slot, who nearly fanned his shot. Instead, the puck flowed to Roy, who was alone near the top left corner of the crease, and he slotted it past Daccord before the goalie could react. It was the second goal in four games for Roy, who moved from Toronto a week ago.
The Kraken won the game with a short goal by defender Evans at 13:36 of the second inning. Chandler Stephenson stole a pass at center ice, skated over the blue line and slotted Evans on his wrist into the top right corner of the net.
The Avalanche restored a three-goal lead at 17:11 of the period when MacKinnon left a drop pass to Sam Malinski, whose shot from the right point was redirected past Grubauer by Kadri. It was Kadri’s first goal in three games since re-signing with Calgary.
Kiviranta scored on a deflection at 12:41 of the third.
Forward Bobby McMann, whom the Kraken acquired from Toronto at the trade deadline last Friday, has had to sit out again while waiting for his work visa to be processed.
–Field level media
