Goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31) of the Seattle Kraken greets Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche in the hand shake line after defeating the Avalanche, winning game seven of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs 2-1 at Ball Arena April 30, 2023. Matt Nieto (83) of the Colorado Avalanche, left, waits to greet Grubauer. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Cale Makar (8) of the Colorado Avalanche dejected after losing game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs againt the Seattle Kraken 2-1 at Ball Arena April 30, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Brandon Tanev (13) of the Seattle Kraken celebrates mid-air on a goal credited to Oliver Bjorkstrand (22) of the Seattle Kraken in the second period during game seven of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena April 30, 2023. Alex Newhook (18) of the Colorado Avalanche and Ben Meyers (59) tried to defend on the play. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Colorado Avalanche fan Jason Jarvis shows off the tooth he lost in a hockey game as he arrives for Game 7 of round 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs at Ball Arena on April 30, 2023 in Denver. He calls it his playoff look when he doesn't have a tooth in place. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Fern Brayton holds a sign as she waits to get inside the arena with her mother Kate for Game 7 of round 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs at Ball Arena on April 30, 2023 in Denver. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Colorado Avalanche fans Ross Rhinehart, his daughter Jordyn on his shoulders, and sons Carter, 5, and Aiden, 8, right, are excited for the game as they walk towards Ball Arena for Game 7 of round 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs on April 30, 2023 in Denver. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche skates past young fans before game seven of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena April 30, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Lars Eller (20) of the Colorado Avalanche and Adam Larsson (6) of the Seattle Kraken crash the boards in the first period during game seven of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena April 30, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar watches from the bench during the first period of Game 7 of round 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs at Ball Arena on April 30, 2023 in Denver. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
A referee keeps Colorado Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram (4), right, away from Seattle Kraken center Morgan Geekie (67), after the two scuffled on the ice during the first period of Game 7 of round 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs at Ball Arena on April 30, 2023 in Denver. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Jamie Oleksiak (24) of the Seattle Kraken and Logan O'Connor (25) of the Colorado Avalanche get in each others faces in the first period during game seven of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena April 30, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Lars Eller (20) of the Colorado Avalanche skates the ouck up ice against Jordan Eberle (7) of the Seattle Kraken in the first period during game seven of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena April 30, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Seattle Kraken left wing Brandon Tanev (13) celebrates teammate Seattle Kraken right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand's (22) first goal during the second period of Game 7 of round 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs at Ball Arena on April 30, 2023 in Denver. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Seattle Kraken teammates celebrate a goal by right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (22) during the second period of Game 7 of round 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs at Ball Arena on April 30, 2023 in Denver. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche slides on the ice against Vince Dunn (29) of the Seattle Kraken in the first period during game seven of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena April 30, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Oliver Bjorkstrand (22) of the Seattle Kraken celebrates his second goal against the Alexandar Georgiev (40) of the Colorado Avalanche in the second period during game seven of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena April 30, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) celebrates a goal during the second period of Game 7 of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs at Ball Arena on April 30, 2023, in Denver. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
The puck bounces off Alexandar Georgiev (40), blocking a shot by Matty Beniers (10) of the Seattle Kraken in the second period during game seven of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena April 30, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates his goal against the Seattle Kraken in the third period during game seven of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena April 30, 2023. The goal was called back on an off sides call. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Colorado Avalanche fans reacts after Nathan MacKinnon's goal was called back because of an off sides call in the third period during game seven of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena April 30, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Seattle Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak (24) celebrates his team's win with Seattle Kraken center Jaden Schwartz (17) after they beat the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 in Game 7 of round 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs at Ball Arena on April 30, 2023 in Denver. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Jamie Oleksiak (24) of the Seattle Kraken celebrates with Goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31) after defeating the Colorado Avalanche, winning the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena April 30, 2023. The Avalanche lost 2-1. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) has his head down on the ice as he and his teammates look dejected after their loss to the Seattle Kraken in Game 7 of round 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs at Ball Arena on April 30, 2023 in Denver. The Kraken beat the Avalanche 2-1. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) and Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) leave the ice after losing Game 7 of round 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs at Ball Arena on April 30, 2023 in Denver. The Kraken beat the Avalanche 2-1. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
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Goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31) of the Seattle Kraken greets Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche in the hand shake line after defeating the Avalanche, winning game seven of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs 2-1 at Ball Arena April 30, 2023. Matt Nieto (83) of the Colorado Avalanche, left, waits to greet Grubauer. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
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By Andy Cross | across@denverpost.com | The Denver Post and Helen H. Richardson | hrichardson@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...
The Colorado Avalanche lost to the Seattle Kraken in Game 7 of their NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs series at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday night, April 30, 2023. The defending Stanley Cup champions fell 2-1 to the underdog Kraken.
