In a bit of unfortunate scheduling Sunday, the Seattle Kraken were playing in Washington, D.C. at the same time the Seahwaks hosted a home game at Lumen Field.
Especially unfortunate because the Kraken came up with their best win of the season, a 5-3 triumph over a Capitals team that had won three of its first four. Seattle got goals from all four lines, including the game winner from top-line winger Jared McCann with 5:27 left.
4th line center Freddy Gaudreau scored his 3rd goal in two games to break a middle period 2-2 tie. His winger, Ryan Winterton, sealed the win on a 3rd period breakaway.
In addition to continued contributions from their 4th line, Seattle got goals from Kaapo Kakko (3rd line) and Jordan Eberle (2nd line). Joey Daccord made 33 saves, including 17 in the 3rd period, helping the Kraken improve to 4-2-0.
Alex Ovechkin scored his 930th career goal for the Caps, and first ever against Daccord.
1st Period Goals
1-0 Seattle: Kakko takes the rebound of Vince Dunn’s shot off goalie Logan Thompson’s pads and fires into the gaping cage.
1-1 Tie: Speaking of empty-netters, Daccord is out beyond the blue paint and in no position to contest Jordan Kyrou’s left circle one-timer. Cole Hutson had fooled the goalie with a fake-shot, cross-ice pass.
2-1 Washington: Ovechkin may be slowing down at 41, playing his final season. But it’s still a bad idea to leave the NHL’s all-time goal scoring leader alone at the top of the crease.
2-2 Tie: If the Caps captain can score, so can the Kraken captain. Eberle’s third whack from in close does the job in the final 11 seconds.
2nd Period Goals
Berkly Catton set up Shane Wright with a grade-A scoring chance. Wright had Thompson at his mercy with time and space from point-blank range, but chipped over the net.
3-2 Seattle: Gaudreau did not miss, showing veteran patience to drag the puck across the crease before depositing a backhand.
3rd Period Goals
3-3 Tie: Daccord makes a save on Boone Jenner, but can’t find the rebound before Jenner does.
4-3 Seattle: McCann cuts across the slot, shoots across his body, and erases the tie.
5-3 Seattle: Winterton accepts a long pass from Ben Meyers at the blueline behind the Caps defense and does the rest.
Kraken Notables
The Capitals are the NHL’s 4th tallest team (averaging 6-foot-2) and 1st in weight (averaging 205 pounds). The Kraken are 30th in height (6-foot-1) and 28th in weight (196 pounds). Source.
Seattle took two penalties in the first three minutes. The 25th-ranked Kraken PK killed both minors, including 12 seconds of 5-on-3. Washington was held to one shot on goal.
By The Numbers
Goals by period: Washington 2-0-1 (3); Seattle 2-1-2 (5)
Shots by period: Washington 8-10-18 (36); Seattle 11-11-5 (27)
Power Plays: Washington 0-2; Seattle 0-2
Next up: The Kraken travel up I-95 for a Tuesday match against the Philadelphia Flyers, 4 pm PT puck drop.
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken Reveal Scary Nature of Jacob Melanson’s Injury
Earlier Canucks:
— Canucks Start Roadie 0-and-2 After 4-1 Loss To Devils
The “Kraken Reaction!” Postgame …
