• Hockey Recap
  • Posts
  • Rookie's Debut Goal Puts Kraken Up Against Avs

Rookie's Debut Goal Puts Kraken Up Against Avs

Tkachuk OT winner keeps Panthers season alive, Pavelski expected back for the Stars, and more.

Author

Brandon Rubeo
April 27, 2023

Good morning and happy Thursday, April 27th.

Yesterday’s poll participants were off as only 23% of voters thought the Panthers would live to fight another day… fortunately, our polls aren’t for 💰

Just a few days left to enter to win up to 20 FREE hockey sticks thanks to our partnership with ProStockHockey.com.

Rookie's Debut Goal Puts Kraken Up Against Avs

On Wednesday morning, Tye Kartye was a minor-league player. On Wednesday night, he was one of the Seattle Kraken’s playoff heroes.

Kartye became the eighth player since 1927 to score a playoff goal in his NHL debut to help the Kraken defeat the Colorado Avalanche and put the defending Stanley Cup champions on the edge of elimination. The Kraken are up 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.

The Kraken, playing the first NHL playoff series in the team’s history, can win it by defeating the Avalanche at home Friday in Game 6.

Kartye was signed as an undrafted free agent last season. He won the Dudley (Red) Garrett Award as the American Hockey League’s leading rookie scorer with 28 goals and 29 assists for 57 points for the Coachella Valley Firebirds.

The Kraken played a hard, effective defensive game and Philippe Grubauer made 26 saves. Kartye’s goal gave them a 2-1 lead after two periods.

"We've played to our identity. We'll continue to try to do that. That's the most important thing," Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said. "You get to this time of year, the stage is a little bigger, it's a little brighter. There's a little bit more on the line and everything means a little bit more, but you still have to fall back on who you are.”

Kartye only received his first NHL opportunity because top line Seattle Jared McCann was injured on a hit by Colorado defenseman Cale Makar in Game 4.

Makar didn’t play Game 5 because he was serving a one-game suspension for the illegal hit.

McCann’s status for Game 6 is still undetermined, although Seattle coach Dave Hakstol indicated he likely will still be out.

Makar will return for Game 6, but the status of Colorado defenseman Josh Manson is now unclear. He left the game in the second period of Game 5 after re-aggravating a lower body injury.

MEME OF THE DAY

Do the Maple Leafs eliminate the Lightning tonight?

Place your prediction 🔮

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

CAN’T MISS

⭐️ Matthew Tkachuk scored at 6:05 of overtime to beat the Boston Bruins 4-3 and keep his Florida Panthers alive in the NHL playoffs. The Bruins still lead the series 3-2 going into Friday’s Game 6 in Sunrise, Fla. Sergei Bobrovsky made 44 saves for Florida in Game 5, including a key stop against Brad Marchand with one second left in regulation. Marchand had a goal and an assist in the game. Center Patrice Bergeron did play for the Bruins after missing the first four games with an injury.

⛑️ Joe Pavelski could be back in the lineup when the Dallas Stars play the Minnesota Wild in a possible series-clinching game on Friday. The Stars hold a 3-2 series lead. Pavelski, 38, hasn’t played since suffering a concussion in the second period of Game 1. He was hit by Wild defenseman Matt Dumba. At the same time, Pavelski was inadvertently struck by Ryan Hartman’s stick. His head slammed into the ice as he fell. Coach Pete DeBoer said Pavelski will be a game-time decision. He added that Pavelski was looking “better.”

WIN FREE STICKS FOR YOUR ENTIRE TEAM!

Seriously, don’t miss out 👇

TRIVIA

Who is the Florida Panthers all-time leader in playoff game winning goals?

QUICK HITS

TOP SHELF HIGHLIGHTS

COACHES CORNER

TRIVIA ANSWER

How was today's newsletter?

Your feedback helps us create the best Hockey Recap possible

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Reply

or to participate.