Kraken push defending champion Avalanche to brink with Game 5 win

The Seattle Kraken are one win away from eliminating the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Seattle defeated the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 in Game 5 on Wednesday to take a 3-2 series lead. The Avalanche didn't face elimination in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

After a goalless first period, Morgan Geekie opened the scoring in the second frame. Seattle has tallied the first goal in all five games of the series.

Nathan MacKinnon responded immediately for the Avalanche. But Tye Kartye - who was making his NHL debut - gave Seattle a lead it wouldn't surrender later in the period.

Yanni Gourde scored the eventual game-winning goal for the Kraken less than two minutes into the third period. Evan Rodrigues got Colorado back within one after the Avalanche pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker.

Former Avalanche netminder Philipp Grubauer made 26 saves in the victory.

The series shifts to Seattle for Game 6, where the Kraken will have an opportunity to win the first series in the young franchise's history on home ice.

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