Joel Kiviranta leads Avalanche to comeback win over Sharks

In the United States on December 22, 2024, the Colorado Avalanche faced off against the Seattle Kraken in an NHL matchup where Joel Kiviranta made a significant impact. The game took place during a busy season and marked the continuation of Colorado's impressive form. Kiviranta scored a hat trick, which included two goals into an empty net, helping to secure a 5-2 victory for the Avalanche. Nathan MacKinnon also performed remarkably, providing two assists, which marked his third consecutive game with this achievement. The Avalanche maintained momentum throughout the match, even after falling behind briefly in the second period when the Kraken took the lead. However, Valeri Nichushkin and Kiviranta rallied with goals to shift the momentum back in favor of the Avalanche. This match concluded a three-game season series sweep for Colorado against Seattle, showcasing their strong performance this season. Goalkeeper Mackenzie Blackwood played a pivotal role, making 17 saves to support his new team after being traded from another NHL franchise. Since his acquisition, Blackwood has shown great form, improving to a 3-1 record. The Kraken, on the other hand, have been struggling, having lost five consecutive games, and looked rather lethargic following a 6-2 defeat the previous day against Vegas. This latest match highlights the contrasting trajectories of the two teams, with Colorado winning their third straight game and the Kraken continuing to grapple with consistent performance. Significantly, Kiviranta's outstanding performance marks his first hat trick in regular-season play, an achievement that adds to his career highlights. The Avalanche's recent form and Kiviranta’s scoring capabilities suggest a promising outlook for the team as they aim for success in the remainder of the season. Their next game will be against Utah, while Seattle is set to play against Vancouver, aiming to break their losing streak. The win over the Kraken also highlighted the Avalanche's defensive strengths, particularly their ability to kill off penalties effectively, having achieved 14 consecutive penalty kills leading into this matchup. Overall, this game was an important milestone for Kiviranta and the Avalanche as they continue to push for the playoffs.