After a Jeri Ryan start to the season – Seven of Nine on the road – the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday played the first two periods like they were glad to be back under Climate Pledge Arena’s roof.
Then the roof fell in. Seattle surrendered a 3-0 lead in the final 14 minutes and needed shootout goals by Freddy Gaudreau and Bobby McMann to outlast the Detroit Red Wings, 4-3.
Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour, a game-time decision because of a lower-body injury, returned and scored as Seattle built a 3-0 lead over the Wings. Montour became the 12th different Kraken to light the lamp, tying Vegas for most goal-scorers on a team this year.
Other Kraken goals came from Mackie Samoskevich in the 1st period, and Ryker Evans on a 2nd period power play.
Detroit’s Viktor Arvidsson in the 3rd period denied Philipp Grubauer’s bid for his 22nd career shutout, fifth with Seattle, and first since April 9, 2024 against the Arizona Coyotes.
After Lucas Raymond scored on the power play 59 seconds later to further narrow the gap, Seattle killed a Ryan Winterton slash with 8:17 left.
Seattle was down 6-on-4 with 1:25 left when Chandler Stephenson was called for roughing and Detroit pulled its netminder. Alex DeBrincat scored with 17 seconds left, his 300th career goal, to force overtime.
1st Period Goals
1-0 Seattle: Stephenson earned one assist, but deserved two; the first for his drop pass, the second for continuing to skate directly into Wings defender Mo Seider. Given a clear lane to the net, Samoskevich doesn’t miss. The pair are part of a newly-formed line with Bobby McMann.
2nd Period Goals
2-0 Seattle: Detroit absorbs a pair of self-inflicted wounds, too many men and puck over glass minors 62 seconds apart. Seattle can’t convert on the 5-on-3, but a third Wings mistake costs them. Michael Rasmussen inexplicably backhands the puck from the boards into the slot.
Evans is so by his lonesome that he’s got time to play with the puck before wiring a shot off Daniil Tarasov’s blocker and in.
3-0 Seattle: Directly off a Berkly Catton faceoff win, Montour closes and wrists home his first of the season.
3rd Period Goals
3-1 Seattle: Arvidsson breaks Grubauer’s shutout with 13:35 left.
3-2 Seattle: With Evans in the box for interference, Raymond significantly tightens Seattle collars.
3-3 Tie: The Kraken couldn’t corral a bouncing puck in front of the Seattle net, but Raymond did. He fed DeBrincat for a layup past a helpless Grubauer.
Kraken Notables
Fans entering the Arena were serenaded by members of the U. of Washington Huskies marching band.
Grubauer didn’t face nearly as much rubber as the Wings fired at him in the Motor City on Oct. 9. In Seattle’s 6-3 victory, Grubauer had already made 21 saves by two minutes into the 2nd period. In the rematch, “Grubi” didn’t make his 21st stop until 31 seconds remained in regulation.
Candidate for oddest play of the month: Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn put his stick in the way of Albert Johansson’s windup. The shot attempt knocked Dunn’s stick out of his hands, easily 30 feet in the air; starting its flight just inside the Kraken blue line, the twig didn’t land until striking the end glass.
Seattle broke out their alternate “Abyss” unis for the first time this season. Simmer recently mused about an MIA Red Wings defender who might look good in Kraken colors.
Ten games in, the Wings and Kraken are done head-to-head for the season.
By The Numbers
Goals by period: Detroit 0-0-3-0 (3); Seattle 1-2-0-1 (4)
Shots by period: Detroit 7-4-13-1 (25); Seattle 9-13-4-1 (27)
Power Plays: Detroit 2-4; Seattle 1-3
Next up: Game two of Seattle’s four-game homestand comes Thursday against the Utah Mammoth.
