Fans were primed on Sunday for the marquee matchup of a signature Seattle sports Sunday.
The Seahawks beating Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers in Pittsburgh? Cal Raleigh hitting his 54th homer as the Mariners won their ninth in a row, 11-2 over Anaheim?
Nah. We’re speaking about the rematch between prospects of the Seattle Kraken and Vancouver Canucks, at the season ticket holder-only event at Kraken Community Iceplex,
The Canucks drew even in the two-game series with a 3-2 victory. The Kraken had used a four-goal 3rd period rally to win Saturday’s “Prospect Showcase” game in Everett, 5-3.
It was a party on all three rinks at KCI. A rec league game had just started on the far ice surface. Dozens of skaters were twirling around the middle rink. (The scoreboard indicated “Guests” were leading “Home” by a score of 11-7. In laps, maybe?) Kraken and Canucks rookies battled it out on the main rink, as a full house, both in the bleachers and up at 32 Bar & Grill, looked on while enjoying a free deluxe spread of food and beverages.
David Goyette tied the game for Seattle 1-1 in the first minute of the middle frame, assisted by Logan Morrison and Jagger Firkus.
Kraken goalie Victor Ostman made a cat-quick blocker save on Gabe Chariot’s rising drive. Ostman was one of eight prospects in Sunday’s lineup who hadn’t played the previous day. These included four forwards (Justin Janicke, Logan Morrison, Lleyton Roed, Jon-Randall Avon) and three defensemen (Will Reynolds, Ty Nelson, Lukas Dragicevic).
Nathan Villeneuve continues to entertain, first earning a half-rink breakaway he wasn’t able to convert. Then, Nathan carried the puck into the zone – only he didn’t have a stick. So he kicked the puck forward, then retrieved a new twig from the bench.
Vancouver goals by Jonathan Lekkerimaki in the 1st and Aaron Obobaife in the 2nd, sandwiched around Goyette’s tally, left the visitors ahead 2-1 after 40 minutes. Vancouver also had a decided SOG edge.
Nick Poisson’s snipe from between the circles extended the Vancouver lead to 3-1 in the 3rd. Ty Nelson’s bid to narrow the gap pinged off the far post. (Later, Nelson made a nice recovery to knock the puck away after it appeared he was beaten 1-on-1.)
Another Kraken defensive prospect, Blake Fiddler, had better luck, pinballing a pass attempt off a Vancouver player into the net with 12 minutes left. Tyson Jugnauth and Justin Janicke drew the assists.
Impressive saves each way. Canucks netminder Aku Koskenvuo blockers away Jagger Firkus’s drive after the “Circus” split the Vancouver defense. At the other end, Ostman turned aside a semi-breakaway.
Seattle’s best chance to tie came after Oscar-Fisker Molgaard was cross-checked into the corner boards with 3:18 left. The WHL officiating crew huddled, determining that Elias Pettersson would draw just a two-minute minor. Coach Derek Laxdal (AHL Coachella Valley Firebirds coach) pulled Ostman for a 6-on-4 skaters advantage. Seattle pressed, but couldn’t find the equalizer.