Spoiler Alert: Kraken Hurt Utah’s WC Hopes Behind Tolvanen’s 2 Goals, Grubauer’s ‘Tending

NHL teams fighting for a wild card berth are like the rest of us – they hate spoilers. Too bad for Utah HC that Friday at Climate Pledge Arena, the Seattle Kraken played spoiler for the second straight game.

Kaapo Kakko scored the game-winner on a Utah turnover in the 3rd period, Eeli Tolvanen scored his second of the night into an empty net, the completion of a three point night, as the Kraken prevailed, 4-2.

First star goalie Philipp Grubauer made 23 saves, many spectacular protecting the Kraken net in the 3rd period. “Sometimes the puck just hits you,” Grubauer said after the game.

Had Utah won, they would have moved into a tie for the Western Conference’s second wild card spot. Wednesday, a 5-4 OT win prevented Montreal from tying for an Eastern Conference WC berth.

In the first minute, Tolvanen reached the 20-goal plateau for the first time in his career. For almost the next 38 minutes, the home team appeared skating in quicksand; falling behind 2-1, recording just 11 shots on goal, and zero that went in.

Then, at 18:54 of period two, Brandon Montour didn’t even realize a centering pass had deflected off his skate, through a Utah defenseman’s legs, and into the net to tie the game.

1st Period

The Kraken get some help from their visitors to take a 1-0 lead 46 seconds in. After a Sean Durzi turnover, Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka kicks Chandler Stephenson’s shot right to Eeli Tolvanen. From a severe angle, Tolvanen blisters a shot headed wide of the far right post, until Vejmelka re-directs it into his own net. Stephenson, who had the heady OT faceoff win and assist against Montreal, records his 35th helper.

Despite owning the 3rd best road power play, Utah doesn’t get a SOGs when Kaapo Kakko cross-checks 2022 3rd overall draft pick Logan Cooley. Earlier, Cooley had slashed Brandon Montour, but Seattle went without a shot on goal as well.

Shortly after the Kraken’s second PP expires, Kevin Stenlund busts out of the box and down ice. Shane Wright can’t fight him off as Stenlund centers. The puck deflects off Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn’s stick to Nick Schmaltz. Goalie Philipp Grubauer can’t slide post-to-post quickly enough, and the game is tied 1-1 at 16:48 on just Utah’s third shot of the period.

2nd Period

Montour loses his balance at the Utah blue line, creating a HC 3-on-1. Grubauer makes a dynamite blocker save on Michael Carcone, who shot across the grain.

But Grubauer, playing at home for the first time since January, appears to overplay the chance of a shot by John Marino. The goalie is headed wide of the left post when Marino centers for Stenlund to tap the go-ahead goal into an unguarded net at 7:35.

Now it’s the Kraken’s turn to go shotless in Seattle – just one in the first 12+ minutes of the period. Jared McCann tried to change momentum with a solid open-ce hit on Cooley.

Both teams bring the mail. First, Seattle Josh Mahura hits post, then Utah’s Dylan Guenther does the same. After a pair of Montour passes go astray, the defenseman exits the ice with a frustrated swipe at the air.

With 66 seconds left before intermission, “Monty’s” mood shifted to elation. Knowing his team is starved for offense, he finds his way to the goal mouth. Jordan Eberle’s pass goes off the heel of Montour’s skate – while his back’s to the net – to tie the game. From their cellys, it’s clear Eberle and Montour are as surprised as anyone in the CPA crowd.

You sweat, you strain, you plod up and down the ice, hit and get hit, but it’s the flukiest of fluke plays that ends up working. Just like they drew it up, right?

3rd Period

Vejmelka stones Wright on a grade-A chance alone in front early in the period.

The quicksand has disappeared under the Kraken skates. Jared McCann forces a Utah penalty during a jet-fueled rush on net. But Seattle’s power play, instrumental in their comeback win against the Canadiens, fails on its third attempt. On all three man advantages combined, the Kraken managed just one shot on goal. They’ve had two shots while shorthanded.

Holy premature celebration, Batman! With 11:51 left, Jaden Schwartz fires a bullet from the bottom of the right circle. The red goal light turns on, the referee signals goal, the Kraken and fans celebrate. Only one problem – Schwartz’s shot hit the crossbar, never crossing the line. The game remains tied, 2-2.

Just like the Kraken goal in the opening minute, Seattle capitalizes on Utah mistakes at 10:29. For some reason, Mikhail Sergachev mis-hits a pass around the boards, sending the puck to the side of the HC net. Kaapo Kakko alertly fished out the puck ahead of a surprised Vejmelka, skated around the net to the near post, and deposited the gift for a 3-2 Seattle lead.

Grubauer keeps the Seattle lead with a game-saving glove robbery on Schmaltz, firing unobstructed down the slot.

Michael Carcone knocks Grubauer down, retrieves the puck to the right of the Kraken goal, then tries to take advantage of the fallen goalie. Grubauer magically stops his shot.

Kakko lays a heavy hit on Lawson Crouse.

Tolvanen puts a bow on another Kraken comeback with an empty-netter.

Up Next

The Winnipeg Jets, only the NHL’s number one team, visits Seattle on Sunday. Then the Kraken take to the road, with games Tuesday in Chicago and Wednesday in Minnesota. The trip concludes with stops in Edmonton and Calgary.