Kraken 4, Golden Knights 3, Shoot-out
It felt inevitable that the Kraken would run its losing streak to six.
With a very talented Vegas team battling for first place in the Pacific Division, visiting a less talented team playing for nothing in particular, it was practically a given that the Golden Knights would prevail over the Kraken, especially after the visitors to Climate Pledge Arena took a 2-0 lead.
Wedged between hitting the post three times in the first eleven minutes of the game, Vegas scored the opener at the 10:04 mark as the Kraken blew coverage in their own end. Left alone in the slot, Mark Stone ripped his 25th goal of the season past Joey Daccord to give the Golden Knights a 1-0 lead.
Stone scored again just 55-seconds into the second period, this time on the power play, against the NHL’s worst penalty kill. He shovelled a puck in along the right post while reaching in behind Seattle defenseman Jamie Oleksiak.
Kraken winger Jared McCann made it a game again on the power play with a wicked one-timer from well above the right circle at the 17:54 mark of the second period. It broke Seattle’s 0-for-17 streak with the man advantage.
Matters looked grim again when just 1:11 into the 3rd period Brett Howden made it 3-1 Vegas, capitalizing on a 4-on-2 rush.
Recently, Seattle head coach Lane Lambert has lamented his team’s lack of breaks. His club got a week’s worth as regulation unfolded.
With 13:49 remaining, Adam Larsson’s dump in along the right wing boards hit a seam in the corner and deflected directly out in front of the Vegas net. Goalie Adin Hill had vacated, heading behind his net to play the puck. The carom ended up on Berkly Catton’s stick and the Seattle rookie deposited it into the empty net to make it 3-2.
Three minutes later Bobby McMann tied the game at 3-3 with a snipe through a screen from the right circle. Vegas forward Mitch Marner had failed to control the puck in his own zone.
We eventually ended up in a shoot-out, where Catton ended things with a sweet deke. It was his first NHL shoot-out attempt.
Seattle moved to within a game of NHL .500 with four games remaining.
The Golden Knight blew their opportunity to hop into a first place tie with the Edmonton Oilers. Instead, they’re a point back, tied for second place with the Anaheim Ducks. All three of those teams have three games remaining.
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken Plan To Chart A New Course For Season 6
