NHL schedule makers didn’t do the Seattle Kraken any favors in their NHL Global Series match-up. Not only are the Carolina Hurricanes defending Cup champions, they came into the games 1st in goals scored and 2nd in fewest goals allowed.
Saturday in Helsinki the Canes dominance continued in a 5-1 victory. The Kraken’s abysmal (65%) penalty kill tempted fate, taking five minors and getting scored on three times. Matty Beniers scored for Seattle.
And check this out: Beniers’ shot was one of three TOTAL for Kraken forwards through two periods. Shot attempts finished 95(!)-28.
Seattle has lost three in a row (including Thursday’s 4-1 setback to Carolina) and four of their last five. At least the league-leading Hurricanes (16-3-2) play in the Eastern Conference and the Kraken (9-8-1) won’t have to see them again this season (until the Stanley Cup Final).
Seattle killed a 1st period 5-on-3, but Berkly Catton (despondent at left) went off barely two minutes later and Jackson Blake broke the ice.
Despite Seattle having two power plays of their own, shot attempts in the period favored the champs, 32-9, and goals, 2-0.
Catton took a second tripping penalty early in the 2nd period, and Andrei Svechnikov scored the first of his two PP goals.
As Don Meredith used to sing at the end of Monday Night Football telecasts, “Sammuttakaa valot, juhlat ovat ohi.” Dandy Don sung it in English, of course, not Finnish – “Turn out the lights, the party’s over.”
1st Period Goals
1-0 Carolina: Sebastian Aho makes a behind-his-back, through his legs pass to Blake, who scores on the Hurricanes third power play of the period. 11 minutes in, shots are 7-1 Canes.
2-0 Carolina: A knuckling Mark Jankowski right circle shot flutters past a surprised Seattle goalie Joey Daccord. Mixed feelings for Mark’s uncle, Kraken assistant GM Ryan Jankowski.
2nd Period Goals
3-0 Carolina: Svechnikov scores on a right dot one-timer before Daccord (10 saves) can slide post-to-post.
3-1 Carolina: Beniers, as he dropped to his signature one-knee pose, pounded a one-timer from the inner edge of the left circle for his 5th of the season.
4-1 Carolina: Daccord’s fourth goal allowed, third while shorthanded, second to Svechnikov, ends his night at 10:05. Coach Lane Lambert pulled him in favor of Philipp Grubauer.
3rd Period Goals
5-1 Carolina: Jankowski scores again, the beneficiary of a sublime transition game and pinpoint passing that left Seattle defenders helpless.
Kraken Notables
The good: Seattle didn’t allow shot-happy Carolina an SOG for the first six minutes.
The bad: Brandon Montour and Ryan Lindgren took penalties 35 seconds apart, gifting the Canes 1:25 of 5-on-3.
The ugly: The Kraken’s 30th-ranked PK would have to survive without two veteran defensemen, both in the box.
The shocking: Behind Daccord’s six – you read right – six saves, Seattle did survive.
Lindgren returned to the lineup after being out 13 games with an upper body injury suffered Oct. 6 against Vegas.
“It’s a unique experience,” Kraken forward Jagger Firkus said in quite the understatement about making his NHL debut overseas. Firkus’s mom and dad arrived in time to watch their son, who took the traditional solo lap during warm-ups.
Stick taps to two Kraken voices, PA announcer Chet Buchanan, who kept fans at Veikkaus Arena informed, and TV voice Everett Fitzhugh, who battled through a hoarse throat.
By The Numbers
Goals by period: Carolina 2-2-1 (5); Seattle 0-1-0 (1)
Shots by period: Carolina 10-15-12 (37); Seattle 3-5-5 (13)
Power Plays: Carolina 3-5; Seattle 0-2
Next up: Back to North America. The NHL is giving the Kraken time to re-acclimate, not playing again until hosting the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday. Seattle has dropped out of a Western Conference playoff spot.
Earlier Kraken:
— The Kraken Vow Improvement In the Helsinki Sequel
Earlier Canucks:
— Canucks PR Horseshit Continues
Postgame Video Recap Video: “Kraken Reaction!” …
