Kiviranta notches hat trick, MacKinnon notches 2 assists as Avalanche beat Kraken 5-2

DENVER (AP) — Joel Kiviranta scored three goalsincluding twice in an empty net, Nathan MacKinnon had his third straight game with two assists and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Seattle Kraken 5-2 on Sunday night.

Valeri Nichushkin and Cale Makar also added goals to power Colorado to a third straight win. In addition to MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Makar had two assists as the Avalanche swept the three-game season series with the Kraken. Kiviranta finished off the victory with a pair of late empty-net goals. It was his first hat trick of the regular season.

Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 17 shots, improved to 3-1 since the Avalanche traded for him in a deal that sent Alexandar Georgiev to San Jose.

The Kraken looked lethargic in the first period the next day a 6-2 loss in Vegas. But they found energy throughout the game and took a brief lead in the second period before goals from Nichushkin and Kiviranta.

Jared McCann and Kaapo Kakko had goals for Seattle, which has dropped five straight. Joey Daccord made 24 saves.

Takeaways

Kraken: Kakko scored his first goal in his third game with Seattle after acquired on 18 Dec in an agreement with the New York Rangers.

Avalanche: Colorado managed the only penalty they committed. They have now killed 14 consecutive penalties.

Key moment

Nichushkin scored 11 seconds after Kakko’s goal gave Seattle a 2-1 lead in the second period. Only two other times this season have both teams combined for rushing goals, according to NHL Stats.

Key statistics

Makar, Rantanen and MacKinnon combined for the same goal for the 10th time this season. That is the most of all trios in the league.

Next

After the holiday break, Colorado is at Utah on Friday, while Seattle plays at Vancouver on Saturday.

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