Before the first preseason game of the 2026-27 Seattle Kraken season, coach Lane Lambert asked the key question: “Who’s going to step up?”
Saturday at Climate Pledge Arena, matching prospect-laden lineups against the Vancouver Canucks, Lambert got his first answers. Jani Nyman and Logan Morrison scored power play goals, Ty Nelson added a 1st period buzzer-beater and Jake O’Brien had the insurance tally in a 4-2 Seattle victory.
Whenever the youngsters made a d-zone mistake, wise elder Joey Daccord (he’s 30) was there to clean up, stopping all 14 shots he faced in two periods of work. Nikke Kokko gave up two 3rd period goals, but survived an insane scramble (below image) in his crease.
1st Period Goals
1-0 Seattle: Nyman roars down left wing on a power play, unleashing a shot that’s too hot for Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo to handle. Nyman is hoping to earn a full-time roster spot this season.
2-0 Seattle: Five seconds before the horn, defenseman Nelson shoots from between the circles through heavy traffic.
3rd Period Goals
3-0 Seattle: In the 1st minute, Morrison completes a power play passing thing of beauty. Oscar Fisker-Molgaard on the half wall to Freddy Gaudreau below the goal line to Morrison in the bumper position, all before Vancouver can react.
3-1 Seattle: Former Seattle T-Bird Braeden Cootes calls his own number on a Canucks 2-on-1 with a sweet shot past Kokko.
3-2 Seattle: Jagger Firkus made things more interesting than they needed to be by inadvertently knocking the Kraken net off its moorings. The delay of game penalty combined with a pulled goaltender gave the Canucks a 2-man advantage, and Arshdeep Bains took advantage from the bottom of the right circle.
4-2 Seattle: O’Brien completes an impressive night, assisted by Jacob Melanson’s impressive forecheck.
New Preseason Reality
Three of last season’s full-time Kraken dressed: Daccord, defenseman Ryan Lindgren, and forward Gaudreau.
Due to the expansion of the NHL regular season to 84 games, the preseason slate has shrunk to four. Of those, veterans can participate in a maximum of two. For that reason, teams rarely ice “regulars.”
Kraken Notable
2025 1st round Kraken pick O’Brien made his presence felt, literally, with a heavy 1st period hit on Jonathan Lekkerimäki. More importantly, it caused a turnover.
O’Brien assisted on the first Kraken goal, provided a screen on the second one, and scored the fourth one. He was named the 3rd star (he wuz robbed).
By The Numbers
Goals by period: Vancouver 0-0-2 (2); Seattle 2-0-2 (4)
Shots by period: Vancouver 7-7-6 (20); Seattle 9-8-12 (29)
Power Plays: Vancouver 1-4; Seattle 2-4
Next up: Seattle plays in Calgary Sunday, a 5 pm Seattle time start.
Earlier Kraken:
— How Long Until The Kraken Invite “Firkus Circus” To Perform
Earlier Canucks:
— Simmer’s Holiday 9; Kraken, Canucks Bad Signings? A Remembrance
VIDEO: The essential 4-minute postgame report from the rink …
