In just their second season since becoming an NHL franchise, the Seattle Kraken have earned a playoff series win. On Sunday, the Kraken defeated the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche 2-1 in Game 7.
In doing so, the Kraken became the first team in NHL history to earn their first series win against a reigning Stanley Cup champion.
Forward Oliver Bjorkstrand led the way for the Kraken as he scored two goals. In fact, Bjorkstrand's two goals came on consecutive shots in the second period to put the Kraken ahead 2-0.
At the 3:24 mark of the second period, Bjorkstrand threw the puck in front and it bounced off of multiple players. It made its way over Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev's shoulder for the goal to open the scoring. Just four minutes later, Bjorkstrand made his presence known yet again. He got ahead of the pack and scored on a scorching shot. Forward Eeli Tolvanen got the puck up to Bjorkstrand at the other end of the ice, and Bjorkstrand ripped a snap shot that clanged off the post on its way into the net.
Late in the second period, Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon had missed an opportunity on an open shot. However, he was able to make up for it just moments later.
MacKinnon gave the puck off to defenseman Devon Toews then Toews handed it right back to MacKinnon. MacKinnon teed up a one-timer in the face-off circle and the puck deflected off of the body of teammate Mikko Rantanen before going past Philipp Grubauer.
Rantanen got credit for the goal and made it a 2-1 deficit in the final minute of the second period. Grubauer had stopped the first 26 shots that he faced prior to Rantanen's tally.
Nathan MacKinnon buried a one-timer off another pass from Devon Toews. However, Artturi Lehkonen was offside entering the offensive zone ahead of Toews, so the goal has been taken off the board.
Grubauer was sensational down the stretch as he stopped 33 of the 34 shots that he faced in Game 7 to beat his former team.