Cale Makar (8) of the Colorado Avalanche sends the puck down ice against Eeli Tolvanen (20) of the Seattle Kraken in the first period at Ball Arena in Denver during Game 2 of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs on April 20, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Colorado Avalanche players gets scrappy with the Seattle Kraken in the first period at Ball Arena during Game 2 of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs on April 20, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Brandon Tanev (13) of the Seattle Kraken blows kisses to the fans after scoring against Alexandar Georgiev (40) of the Colorado Avalanche in the first period at Ball Arena during Game 2 of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs on April 20, 2023. Vince Dunn (29) of the Seattle Kraken skates towards Tanev to join the celebration. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Evan Rodrigues (9) of the Colorado Avalanche handles the puck against Will Borgen (3) of the Seattle Kraken in the first period at Ball Arena during Game 2 of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs on April 20, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Bowen Byram (4) of the Colorado Avalanche collects the puck heading down ice in the first period at Ball Arena during Game 2 of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs against the Seattle Kraken on April 20, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche and Jaden Schwartz (17) of the Seattle Kraken chase down the puck in the first period at Ball Arena during Game 2 of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs April on 20, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Matt Nieto (83) of the Colorado Avalanche chase down the puck against Justin Schultz (4) of the Seattle Kraken in the first period at Ball Arena during Game 2 of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs on April 20, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
From left to right, Seattle Kraken teammate Eeli Tolvanen (20), Justin Schultz (4), Oliver Bjorkstrand (22) and Carson Soucy (28) celebrate Schultz's goal against Alexandar Georgiev (40) of the Colorado Avalanche in the first period at Ball Arena during Game 2 of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs on April 20, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Alexandar Georgiev (40) of the Colorado Avalanche makes a save on a shot by Jordan Eberle (7) of the Seattle Kraken in the second period at Ball Arena during Game 2 of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs on April 20, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Valeri Nichushkin (13) of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates his goal against Philipp Grubauer (31) of the Seattle Kraken in the second period at Ball Arena during Game 2 of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs on April 20, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Mikko Rantanen (96) of the Colorado Avalanche grabs Brandon Tanev (13) of the Seattle Kraken around the face in front of Alexandar Georgiev (40) of the Colorado Avalanche in the second period at Ball Arena during Game 2 of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs on April 20, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Artturi Lehkonen (62) of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates his goal against Philipp Grubauer (31) of the Seattle Kraken in the second period at Ball Arena during Game 2 of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs with teammate Cale Makar (8) on April 20, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Vince Dunn (29) of the Seattle Kraken gets upended by Evan Rodrigues (9) of the Colorado Avalanche in the second period at Ball Arena during Game 2 of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs on April 20, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Carson Soucy (28) of the Seattle Kraken and Lars Eller (20) of the Colorado Avalanche crash hard into the boards in the third period at Ball Arena during Game 2 of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs on April 20, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Devon Toews (7) of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates his game-winning goal against the Seattle Kraken in the third period at Ball Arena during Game 2 of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs on April 20, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Devon Toews, left, of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates his game-winning goal against the Seattle Kraken with teammates Artturi Lehkonen, second from left, Samuel Girard (49) and Nathan MacKinnon (29) in the third period at Ball Arena during Game 2 of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs on April 20, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Cale Makar (8) of the Colorado Avalanche and his teammates greet Alexandar Georgiev (40) of the Colorado Avalanche after defeating the Seattle Kraken 3-2 at Ball Arena to win Game 2 of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs on April 20, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
The Avalanche staged a comeback 3-2 win over the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night at Ball Arena. Down 2-0 in the second period and staring at a potential 2-0 series deficit, the Avs found new energy. Their three consecutive goals were capped by Devon Toews’ game-winning rebound with 7:01 remaining in the third.
And, as if the game needed any more drama, Colorado killed a penalty in the final three minutes as Seattle emptied the net.
The series moves to the Emerald City for Game 3 — the Kraken’s first home playoff game in franchise history — on Saturday.
