MacKinnon, Makar extend streaks, Avalanche top Kraken for 3rd win in row

SEATTLE -- Joel Kiviranta scored twice, and Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar each extended his season-opening point streak to seven games for the Colorado Avalanche in a 3-2 win against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on Tuesday.

MacKinnon scored a power-play goal, and Makar had two assists for the Avalanche (3-4-0), who won their third straight. MacKinnon has 12 points (three goals, nine assists) during his point streak, and Makar has 14 points (two goals, 12 assists).

“I think if you look at all of our games over the course of a year, [MacKinnon and Makar] are very impactful and on the score sheet a lot,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “I think the difference this year is we needed them to be that way right out of the gate because of players that are missing from the lineup.

“So, not only do we need those guys to be really efficient and committed on the defensive side of things, but we also need them to be able to produce.”

Justus Annunen made 25 saves for Colorado in his second straight start.

“It’s almost like [compared to] the first couple games of the season, it’s all different,” Annunen said. “It’s my first time I’m starting here (in the NHL), so of course it’s been a little different summer. … I got some games last year, I got some confidence from there.”

Jared McCann and Ryker Evans scored for the Kraken (4-3-0), who had won three straight. Philipp Grubauer made 25 saves.

“It was maybe our best first period of the year, the way we came out, the way we played,” Seattle coach Dan Bylsma said. “We had a number of chances to get a goal in that period, but it was capped off by their late goal at the end of the first that forced it into a response game from us.”

Kiviranta gave Colorado a 1-0 lead at 18:32 of the first period with a snap shot from the slot on a rush that went in off the left post.

“[That goal] is huge,” Makar said. “Obviously, you want to get out to a lead. They’re coveted in the regular season, so for us, we’ve got to make sure we’re able to play with the lead and without the lead.”

McCann tied it 1-1 at 11:57 of the second period. Jordan Eberle stripped Nikolai Kovalenko in the slot, and the puck rolled to the top of the crease, where McCann spun to his backhand and lifted a shot over Annunen’s glove.

The goal was McCann’s 100th with the Kraken.

“It obviously would have been a lot nicer with a win, but I have a lot of people to thank for that,” McCann said. “Obviously, being here with this organization has meant a lot to me and my family.”

Kiviranta made it 2-1 at 14:56 of the second, tipping Makar's wrist shot from the right circle past Grubauer’s glove.

“I think I’m just trying to find guys,” Makar said of his point streak. “I’m trying to be a little bit of a facilitator, and then, obviously, guys are finding and putting themselves in good spots.”

It was Kiviranta’s third goal in two games.

“[Kiviranta] has been incredible all season,” Annunen said. “He’s doing his job, he’s been skating. … You can see it now, he’s scoring a lot.”

MacKinnon pushed it to 3-1 with a power-play goal at 19:52 of the second, skating across the top of the left circle and sending a wrist shot against the grain past Grubauer’s blocker.

Evans cut it to 3-2 with five seconds remaining in the game, scoring a power-play goal on a rebound in the left circle.

“We took some penalties, obviously, then got back on our heels, and you can’t do that against a power play like that,” McCann said.

NOTES: MacKinnon and Makar are the only players in the NHL so far this season with a season-opening point streak of seven games. … Maker joined John-Michael Liles (nine games in 2010-11) as the only defensemen in franchise history with a season-opening point streak of at least seven games.