NHL Playoffs: Kraken vs Avalanche Game 5 Odds & Prediction (Apr 26)

• The Avalanche are -180 home favorites in Game 5 in their playoff series against the Kraken Wednesday (April 26th) at 9:30pm ET
• Seattle won a 3-2 overtime thriller in Game 4 to even the series at two apiece
• Keep reading for the complete Kraken vs Avalanche odds, plus best bets

After losing Game 1 to the Seattle Kraken, defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche won the next two games to seemingly take control of their series. However, the Kraken displayed tenacity, recovering from a blown 2-0 lead to win in overtime. Jordan Eberle provided the heroics, so the series shifts back to Colorado tied at 2.

Star defenseman Cale Makar will miss game 5, after being suspended one game for his hit on Kraken forward Jared McCann. Prior to the suspension, the Avs were a -200 favorite, but that has shrunk to -180.

Heading into the series, the Avalanche were -180 favorites to advance to the second round. That number got as short as -650 headed into Game 4, but now that the series is deadlocked at two games apiece, Colorado is -240 to advance. Read on for Kraken vs Avalanche analysis.

Kraken vs Avalanche Game 5 Odds

Colorado is the third choice in the Stanley Cup odds at +800, while Seattle is a +5500 longshot. The Avalanche are the -180 favorites in this contest that features a total of 5.5 goals.

Puck drop is set for 9:30pm ET at Ball Arena with ESPN broadcasting the game in the States and Rogers Sportsnet covering it in Canada.

Odds as of April 25th at DraftKings Sportsbook. 

Seattle Kraken Betting Analysis

Seattle has gotten out of the gate superbly this series, scoring the first goal in all four contests. After taking Game 1, they coughed up leads in the following two tilts, and it appeared like they were on their way to doing it again Monday. The Avs erased a 2-0 deficit, but a Josh Manson tripping penalty early in overtime led to Jordan Eberle’s series-tying marker.

This is a close, tight series, as a 2-2 deadlock would suggest. Both squads have scored twelve goals apiece, and both have received above-average goaltending. What the Kraken lack in experience, they’ve made up with grit, as if they’re playing with house money.

🚨 JORDAN EBERLE WINS IT 🚨

The @SeattleKraken get their first ever #StanleyCup Playoffs win on home ice, and this series is tied! pic.twitter.com/75N7pzks3P

— NHL (@NHL) April 25, 2023

Working in the Kraken’s favor is the fact they were a far better road team this year than on home ice (56 points, compared to 44). Working against them is that the Avalanche are 4-1 in their last five when their opponent allows two goals or less in their previous game.

Colorado Avalanche Betting Analysis

Through four duels, Colorado’s offense has largely been held in check, with the Avs scoring more than three goals just once, in game 3. They’ve been without captain Gabriel Landeskog all season (knee), and haven’t had Valeri Nichushkin the last two outings (personal reasons).

Things are a bit more dicey now that star blueliner Cale Makar is suspended for his hit on Kraken forward Jared McCann. Makar initially received a five-minute major penalty, but that was downgraded to a two-minute minor infraction, and McCann is expected to miss action.

Should Cale Makar be suspended for his hit on Jared McCann?#SeaKraken #GoAvsGo #NHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/XAfPvVvaNr

— NHL Trade Rumors (@nhltraderumours) April 25, 2023

This is the first time in his brilliant NHL career that Makar has been suspended or fined. With him missing this pivotal game 5, the line for the Avs to win got shorter.

Colorado has won 14 of 17 first-round playoff games in the last four years. The Avalanche are 6-1 in their last seven playoff games as a favorite of -151 to -200.

Kraken vs Avalanche Recent Results

In the regular season, the upstart Kraken got the better of the Avs on two of three occasions, and now the series is knotted up at two. Seattle has won five of their last eight tilts against the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Kraken vs Avalanche Pick & Prediction

Bettors believe that Seattle will pull the upset in Game 5, with a whopping 87% of bets on them for the moneyline. Our model has this Kraken vs Avalanche game going Colorado’s way, however, 3.59-3.34. That’s an implied win probability of 62.9%.

Even though Seattle has won five of eight against Colorado, it’s still super hard to go against the defending champs. An intriguing stat to note is that seven of eight battles have resulted in under 5.5 goals being accumulated.

Pick: Colorado Avalanche Moneyline (-180), Under 5.5 Goals (+100)