At some point, the Seattle Kraken are going to have to take the training wheels off and let their 20-somethings lead the ride. A vision of that future presented itself Sunday at Climate Pledge Arena, when the younger generation led Seattle to a 4-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils.
Add the ages of the Kraken’s first three goal scorers together, and they still would only barely qualify for Social Security benefits.
2nd Period: Evans Goal Ties Game 1-1 At 7:32
Defenseman Ryker Evans, who just turned 24, got Seattle on the board in the 2nd period. His blueline wrister was unintentionally deflected home by the Devils’ Johnathan Kovacevic.
3rd Period: Beniers Goal Puts Kraken Ahead 2-1 At 7:04
Don’t be fooled by this being Matty Beniers’ 300th NHL game. The 2023 Calder Trophy winner only turned 23 in late November. His go-ahead 3rd period tally did show veteran savvy, carrying the puck wide and shoveling a backhand up where momma keeps the cookie jar – top shelf.
In a postgame interview, Beniers gave a delightfully youthful reaction to his 12th of the season. “Holy crap, that went in!” His celly was special, too; a rapid twirl of his twig through several rotations, then mimicking a holstering of his stick as if it was a six-shooter.
“Outrageous celly,” said winning goalie Joey Daccord. “I loved every second of it.”
3rd Period: Catton Goal Pads Lead To 3-1 At 7:22
Berkly Catton only became a 20-something on his last birthday, less than two weeks ago. 18 seconds after Beniers broke the tie, Catton scored what proved to be the game-winner by driving to the net. Once there, he outmaneuvered Simon Nemec to push the puck the few inches it needed to cross the goal line.
Catton, who suffered a 27-game goal drought to start his NHL career, now has five in his last 11. “It’s nice they’re starting to go in,” he said afterward.
Honorable mention to 4th line wrecking ball Jacob Melanson, age 22, who recorded seven of Seattle’s 19 hits in less than eight minutes of ice time.
Kraken On-Ice Mentors
Kraken 30-somethings did provide key mentorship, or in this case, key assister-ship. 35-year-old captain Jordan Eberle, who also potted an empty-netter, freed and slid the puck to Beniers. 31-year-old Chandler Stephenson got fancy with a no-look, cross-crease pass to set up Catton.
And don’t forget 33-year-old Jaden Schwartz. Daccord, who returned to form with 27 saves, certainly didn’t. “Schwartzy saved a goal with one of those blocks” while Seattle was shorthanded. “That’s the sacrifice it takes to win. With our style, most of our games are going to be one-goal games. I liked the fight from our group.”
The victory cools off a Devils team that had won five of its previous six, including a 3-2 overtime decision vs. the Kraken at Prudential Center on Jan. 14.
Noting the close quarters between two defense-first teams, coach Lane Lambert offered, “It was a bit of a chess match. There weren’t a lot of opportunities by either side. I’m glad we ended up winning that chess match.”
Seattle now has 55 points, moving them into a three-way tie for the second Western Conference wild card slot with the L.A. Kings and San Jose Sharks. Each of those teams has a game in hand on the Kraken.
Earlier Kraken:
— Worst 40 Minutes All Year Dooms Kraken Vs. Ducks
