Canucks 3, Kraken 2 — Shoot-Out
Both teams came out hungry. The Kraken looking to extend a four-game win streak; the Canucks looking to snap it.
In the end, the visitors from Vancouver finished on top 3-2 in a shoot-out, largely because of netminder Kevin Lankinen. Aside from making 37 saves through the first 65-minutes, he’s now 17-for-17 in stopping shoot-out attempts this season. He was a perfect 3-for-3 in this one.
Vancouver newcomer Liam Ohgren, acquired in the Quinn Hughes trade with the Wild, picked up his second shoot-out game winner in nine days.
Former Canucks 24th-overall draft pick (2014) Jared McCann opened the scoring for Seattle with an absolute rocket one-timer on a 4-on-3 power play at 8:50 of the 1st period.
Despite missing two-thirds of the season due to injury, McCann’s been good for a goal every-other-game he’s played.
Linus Karlsson tied the game for Vancouver at 15:20 of the opening stanza when he was left alone off a left wing face-off win and he buried a shot from the slot past Joey Daccord.
With just 20-seconds remaining in the period, Vancouver suffered a breakdown on a partial line change with D-men Elias Pettersson and Tyler Myers running into one another at their own blueline. Kraken rookie forward Jacob Melanson took advantage by rushing down the left wing boards unobstructed, finding fellow freshman Ryan Winterton alone in front to beat Lankinen.
In the second period the Canucks tied it on a twisted wrister from centre Elias Pettersson from the high slot at 5:23. It came off the rush and was ‘Petey’s’ ninth goal of the season.
That was all of the scoring through regulation and overtime, despite Seattle earning a 1:40-long power play during the extra session. The Kraken out-shot the Canucks for the match 39-24.
To a shoot-out we went. Ohgren was the only scorer, beating Daccord five-hole in round-three.
Seattle, 0-and-4 in shoot-outs this season, is officially two points out of a Western Conference playoff spot. Vancouver, 4-and-0 in shoot-outs, is six points back.
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken In A Playoff Spot; .528 The Number
