Not a bad run for the Kraken Winter Olympians.
Despite a little controversy and an unfortunate setback vs. Canada in the semi-finals, Seattle Kraken Finns Eeli Tolvanen and Kaapo Kakko finished things up rather nicely.
Tolvanen posted two assists and Kakko scored a goal in helping their country win a bronze medal with a 6-1 victory over Slovakia on Saturday in Italy.
For the tournament Kakko played in six games, scored three goals and added two helpers. He finished a plus-five overall, keeping in mind some of the Finnish numbers were mildly inflated with an 11-0 win over the host country.
Tolvanen played in five games, sitting out just that semi vs. Canada, and chipped in a goal and two assists.
Denmark, Finland’s European neighbors to the south, featured Kraken forward, mostly minor leaguer, Oscar Moelgaard, who played in four games.
In the preliminary round, the 21-year-old tallied an assist in a 3-1 loss to Germany and another helper in a 6-3 loss to the Americans. In the qualification playoff, to get to the quarter finals, the Danes narrowly lost to the Czechs 3-2. Moelgaard added another assist.
Denmark finished 9th out of 12 teams.
The slight, 6-foot center returns to the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the American Hockey League.
Germany featured popular Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer in net. “Grubi” played in four of the Germans’ five games, finishing with a .912 save percentage and a 2.79 goals against average.
He and his countrymen finished 6th overall after losing 6-2 to Slovakia in the quarter finals on February 18th.
Grubauer, Tolvanen and Kakko return to NHL action with Seattle visiting the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night. The club then plays the Blues in St. Louis the next night before returning home to play the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.
Earlier Kraken:
— Can McCann Win His 5th Straight Kraken Scoring Title?
Earlier Canucks:
— Canucks Olympic Break, Simmer’s 9; Jim Robson, Trade Talks, Playoff Picture
