Seattle Kraken face Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on April 16, 2026, in a game where motivation and squad rotation will play a big role. Colorado have already secured their position and may rest key players, while Seattle are playing for pride and future opportunities. This creates a slightly unpredictable but interesting matchup.
Match Details
| Match | Seattle Kraken vs Colorado Avalanche |
|---|---|
| League | NHL |
| Date | 16 April 2026 |
| Venue | Ball Arena |
| Time | 10:00 PM ET |
| TV | ESPN |
Team Standings Snapshot
| Team | Games | Wins | Losses | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Avalanche | 81 | 54 | 16 | 119 |
| Seattle Kraken | 81 | 34 | 36 | 79 |
Colorado are one of the best teams in the league, while Seattle are far behind in the standings.
Recent Form
Colorado Avalanche Last 5 Games
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 15 | Flames | Win 3-1 |
| Apr 14 | Oilers | Win 2-1 |
| Apr 12 | Golden Knights | Loss 2-3 (OT) |
| Apr 10 | Flames | Win 3-1 |
| Apr 08 | Blues | Win 3-1 |
Colorado have been consistent, winning four of their last five games, but scoring has been controlled rather than explosive.
Seattle Kraken Last 5 Games
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 16 | Golden Knights | Loss 1-4 |
| Apr 14 | Kings | Loss 3-5 |
| Apr 12 | Flames | Win 4-1 |
| Apr 10 | Golden Knights | Win 4-3 |
| Apr 08 | Wild | Loss 2-5 |
Seattle have struggled for consistency, losing three of their last five matches.
Head-to-Head Record
| Category | Avalanche | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Meetings | 2 Wins | 0 Wins |
| Last Match | Win 5-1 | Loss |
Colorado have dominated this matchup, winning multiple games comfortably.
Key Players to Watch
Colorado Avalanche
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Cale Makar | Playmaker defenseman |
| Valeri Nichushkin | Goal scorer |
| Brock Nelson | Attacking support |
Even with possible rotation, Colorado still have quality players who can control the game.
Seattle Kraken
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Matty Beniers | Playmaker |
| Jordan Eberle | Finisher |
| Bobby McMann | Goal scorer |
Seattle rely on collective effort rather than individual stars.
Projected Lineups
| Seattle Kraken | Colorado Avalanche |
|---|---|
| McMann – Beniers – Eberle | Lehkonen – Nelson – Nichushkin |
| Kakko – Wright – Nyman | Landeskog – Roy – Colton |
| Catton – Stephenson – Tolvanen | Kelly – Drury – Kiviranta |
| Meyers – Gaudreau – Winterton | Polin – Barre-Boulet – O’Connor |
| Dunn – Larsson | Kulak – Makar |
| Mahura – Montour | Toews – Malinski |
| Evans – Oleksiak | Blankenburg – Burns |
| Goalie: Ostman | Goalie: Wedgewood |
Colorado are expected to rotate some key players, while Seattle lineup remains more stable.
Goaltending Comparison
| Team | Goalie | GAA | Save % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avalanche | Wedgewood | 2.07 | .920 |
| Kraken | Ostman | Limited experience | – |
Colorado have a clear advantage in goalkeeping, even with rotation.
Injury Report
| Team | Player | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Avalanche | MacKinnon | Rest |
| Avalanche | Necas | Rest |
| Kraken | Grubauer | Out |
| Kraken | Daccord | Out |
| Kraken | McCann | Out |
Seattle’s injuries weaken their lineup more significantly.
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Team Stats Comparison
| Category | Avalanche | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Strong | Inconsistent |
| Defense | Excellent | Weak |
| Attack | Controlled | Average |
Colorado’s structured play gives them an overall advantage.
Betting Odds
| Market | Avalanche | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | -175 | +150 |
| Puck Line | -1.5 | +1.5 |
| Total Goals | 6.5 | 6.5 |
Odds suggest Colorado are favorites, but not by a huge margin due to possible rotation.
Best Betting Picks
| Bet Type | Pick |
|---|---|
| Puck Line | Kraken +1.5 |
| Total Goals | Under 6.5 |
| Player Pick | Beniers Over 0.5 Assist |
Seattle are expected to keep the game close due to Colorado’s lineup changes.
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV | ESPN |
| Streaming | ESPN+ |
| Venue | Ball Arena |
| Time | 10:00 PM ET |
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Final Prediction
This game is more complex than it looks on paper. Colorado Avalanche are clearly the better team, but their motivation is limited, and several key players may rest ahead of the playoffs. That reduces their attacking strength and overall intensity.
Seattle Kraken, despite poor recent form, have shown effort and will likely approach this game with more urgency. Their players have individual motivation, which can help them stay competitive.
The Avalanche will still control possession and tempo, but without full strength, they may not dominate as expected. This could turn into a slower, low-scoring game where Seattle stay close throughout.
Predicted Score: Colorado Avalanche 3 – Seattle Kraken 2
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