Both the Kraken and the Flames began the evening with 30 points in the NHL’s Western Conference Standings. When the game ended, the Flames had moved to within a downwind sniff of a playoff position, while the Kraken sank deeper into the abyss.
The home team Flames dominated the scoreless first period, out-shooting Seattle 18-6. Calgary had the edge in high-danger chances 5-to-3 according to Natural Stat Trick.
With a fresh start in the second period, the Kraken opened the scoring. Chandler Stephenson picked up his seventh point in as many games when he fired home his 8th goal of the season at 7:52. “Stevie” took a pass from Eeli Tolvanen while crossing in front of the net and finished a little backhand deke.
Two-and-a-half minutes later the Flames tied it when Rasmus Andersson’s centering pass went in off captain Mikael Backlund’s foot.
On their only power play of the night, Seattle took their second lead when Kaapo Kakko tipped in a slap-pass from Ryker Evans at 17:16. It was a 2-1 game in favor of the visitors after two periods.
The game featured some feisty behavior and what appeared to be, or sounded like, plenty of extra chirping. Maybe we have ourselves a somewhat unlikely rivalry developing between these Pacific Division foes. Seattle goalie Joey Daccord was in the middle of it as much as anyone.
In the third, Calgary ended up with multiple power plays. The Kraken penalty kill, the NHL’s worst statistically, was four-for-four before Nazem Kadri scored on Calgary’s fifth opportunity of the game at the midway point of the period. His slapper from the right circle beat Daccord
One minute and fifteen seconds later, Calgary took their first lead. With some quick puck movement up ice, Matt Coronado found some room up the left wing. He streaked in and fired the puck high glove past Daccord to make it 3-2.
Backlund added an empty netter.
For the game, Calgary outshot Seattle 46-23.
Seattle came in with the worst 3rd period goal differential in the NHL at minus-11 since December 1st. That negative tendency didn’t improve on Thursday night. Make it minus-14.
Another pulled goalie, another failed 6-on-5, another loss.
Earlier Kraken:
— No Moral Victories; Kraken Lose To Av’s 5-3
