Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin, right, collects the puck as Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers, left, defends in the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
DENVER (AP) — Joel Kiviranta scored three goals, including twice into an empty net, Nathan MacKinnon notched his third straight two-assist game and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Seattle Kraken 5-2 on Sunday night.
Valeri Nichushkin and Cale Makar also added goals to propel 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 wrapped up the win with a pair of late empty-net scores. It was his first regular-season hat trick.
Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 17 shots, improving 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 a day after a 6-2 loss at Vegas. But they found energy throughout the game, grabbing a momentary lead in the second period before goals from Nichushkin and Kiviranta.
Jared McCann and Kaapo Kakko had goals for the Seattle, which has dropped five in a row. Joey Daccord made 24 saves.
Takeaways
Kraken: Kakko scored his first goal in his third game with Seattle after being acquired on Dec. 18 in a deal with the New York Rangers.
Avalanche: Colorado weathered the only penalty they committed. They've 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 faster goals, according to NHL Stats.
Key stats
Makar, Rantanen and MacKinnon combined on the same goal for the 10th time this season. It’s the most among all trios in the league.
Up next
Following the holiday break, Colorado is at Utah on Friday, while Seattle plays in Vancouver on Saturday.
Seattle Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord stops a shot in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, front, cools off with a spray of water from a bottle as goaltender Scott Wedgewood looks on during a time out in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Seattle Kraken, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood prepares for the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Seattle Kraken, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin, center, shoots the puck past Seattle Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord, lrft, for a goal as center Shane Wright defends in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin, left, is congratulated after scoring a goal by defenseman Samuel Girard in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Seattle Kraken, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche left wing Joel Kiviranta follows the flight of his shot for an empty-net tally, his third goal of an NHL hockey game, in the third period against the Seattle Kraken Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard, front, collects the puck Seattle Kraken center Yanni Gourde, back, in the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Seattle Kraken right wing Kaapo Kakko celebrates after scoring against the Colorado Avalanche in the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers, left, congratulates right wing Kaapo Kakko, right, after Kakko scored in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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