Kraken 2, Hurricanes 1
After taking care of business 5-1 on Saturday night against the pathetic Vancouver Canucks, the Kraken faced a whole different animal on Monday night at Climate Pledge Arena.
The Carolina Hurricanes are on top of the NHL’s eastern conference with 82 points entering game action in Seattle, and came in with the highest first period goal production in the league with 67 markers.
While surviving the first 20 minutes, the Kraken actually created a couple high danger chances of their own. Joey Daccord was busy in Seattle’s net, facing 13 shots-on-goal in the first, to Hurricanes goalie Freddie Andersen facing just seven at the other end.
Scoreless after one.
Team Finland Olympic bronze medalist Kaapo Kakko took over for awhile in the second period. The Kraken winger ripped home a wrist shot, keeping the puck while on a 2-on-1 rush, to put Seattle up 1-0 at the 3:22 mark.
Ten minutes later he made a beautiful cross ice pass to Jaden Schwartz going to the net on the power play to give the home team a 2-0 lead. Unfortunately, upon video review, Kraken center Shane Wright was offside on the near boards and the goal was taken off the board.
Moments later, the Kraken scored again. This goal stuck. The 4th line created the play with good defense in their own zone, and then Ben Meyers finished it up ice by banging away at the puck along the right wing post. It ended up bouncing in off the back of Andersen’s leg. Seattle D-man Adam Larsson tallied an assist on both Seattle goals.
Just when it looked like the Kraken would finish forty minutes of hockey with a two-goal cushion, Kraken D-man Vince Dunn failed to control a loose puck in his slot, allowing Hurricanes sniper Nik Ehlers to fire a shot past Daccord with just 90 seconds remaining in the period.
2-1 Seattle.
In the third period it took Seattle nine-and-a-half minutes to generate their first shot on goal. Their second shot came four seconds later and that was it. Two shots. It was all Carolina, all period long.
Somehow Seattle held on. A combination of desperate defensive plays while breaking up opportunities, Daccord making a couple big saves, and Carolina simply shooting wide.
Bottom line: A huge two points in the standings for Seattle as they bolster a playoff position in the Western Conference. Still 22 games to play.
Note: Seattle defenseman Jamie Oleksiak, a pending unrestricted free agent and a likely trade target before the NHL deadline on Friday, had a career high 11 hits in the game. Either he’s trying to stick around with the club for a potential playoff run, or he’s simply increasing his value for suitors.
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken Drop Two In A Row Coming Out Of The Break
