Fighting-Mad Kraken KO Sharks With Barrage Of Punches & Goals, 6-2 At CPA

After his 6th consecutive start, a 4-1 victory over Pittsburgh Jan. 25, Seattle Kraken goalie Joey Daccord assured reporters, “I like playing a lot. I love it.”

Buckle up, Mr. Daccord. Goalie partner Philipp Grubauer, who allowed 13 goals on 45 shots during his last three appearances, was unexpectedly re-routed Wednesday to AHL Coachella Valley. So Daccord will be in the driver’s seat for the lion’s share of the Kraken’s remaining 30 games.

The first stop on the journey came Thursday at Climate Pledge Arena, a 6-2 demolition of the San Jose Sharks. The Kraken scored four goals in a 5:49 span of the 2nd period, a pair from Brandon Montour and singles from Oliver Bjorstrand and Jaden Schwartz. Chandler Stephenson’s three-point night included the opening goal, and Eeli Tolvanen closed the scoring with a goal in his 4th straight game.

Oh, and Joey? 26 saves for his sixth victory in his last nine decisions. He improved on a .917 save percentage and 2.45 GAA coming in, 5th and 9th best respectively in the NHL.

1st Period

Goalie Ales Stezka was recalled from Coachella Valley as Daccord’s understudy. The 6-foot-5 netminder from Plzen, Czechia was originally drafted by Minnesota in 2015. In 24 games with the Firebirds this season, Stezka compiled a 3.00 GAA and .902 save percentage.

Oliver Bjorkstrand’s stretch pass hits Chandler Stephenson in stride at the blue line. Stephenson carries the mail the rest of the way, depositing a wicked wrister over the pad and under the glove of San Jose netminder Yaroslav Askarov for a 1-0 Seattle lead at 3:55.

Daccord makes sure the Kraken hold that lead with consecutive sparkling saves on Mikael Granlund and Walker Duehr.

Away from the play, the whistle blows. Brandon Tanev, who spun awkwardly face-first into the boards, skates off the ice and directly down the tunnel bleeding from the mouth.

Another bad break: Carl Grundstrom’s centering pass deflects off Shane Wright’s skate, high over Daccord’s shoulder and into the net for a 1-1 tie at 17:55. For added yuck, Kraken defensemen Jamie Oleksiak and Brandon Montour collided in the defensive zone, allowing for the San Jose scoring chance.

Seattle recorded eight SOGs in the first 12 minutes, and zero for the remainder of the period.

2nd Period

Fans at CPA missed out on a reunion with former Kraken Alex Wennberg. Sent to the Rangers at the 2024 trade deadline, Wennberg signed as a free agent with San Jose in the off-season. He’s out of the lineup day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

For the Kraken, defenseman Ryker Evans didn’t dress and is similarly listed as day-to-day. Cale Fleury, up from the Firebirds, has taken Evans’ spot on the blueline while he recuperates.

The puck, which bounced against the Kraken late last period, takes a redirection in their favor at 2:54. A Vince Dunn shot deflects off Stephenson directly to the goal mouth. Showing great hand-eye coordination, Bjorkstrand whacks a still-airborne puck into the cage for a 2-1 Seattle lead.

Bjorkstrand’s goal is still being announced when Montour gives the fans further reason to cheer. The defenseman walks down the slot and rifles a laser off the left post for his 9th of the season and a 3-1 lead at 2:54.

But wait, there’s more. Jaden Schwartz complained when he was called for tripping, but it worked out okay. Just as Schwartz exits the box, he collects a clear rimmed around the boards by Oleksiak. San Jose’s Tyler Toffoli, pooped from a full two-minute power play shift, can’t catch the Kraken winger as he finds room between Askarov’s pads at 5:58. Schwartz’s team-leading 18th also occasions a Sharks goalie change.

Truculence. San Jose, frustrated by this game, and Seattle, frustrated by their last game, congregate behind Daccord’s net. The shot clock doesn’t record how many shots Dunn lands on Sharks defenseman Henry Thrun, but it’s enough that Dunn briefly must exit to get repairs to his knuckles.

When all the skirmishes conclude, the Kraken end up with a power play. And when Luke Kunin trips Stephenson 48 seconds later, the Kraken get to work on a 5-on-3. Montour needs just 25 ticks to score his second of the period and 10th of the season. Kraken lead 5-1 at 7:52.

Taffoli, who’s having no fun at all tonight, collects the puck between the hashes with Daccord still recovering from an earlier stop.

Oleksiak (24) to the rescue, as he kneels between the shot and the net to make the save of the night.

3rd Period

The night wasn’t a complete loss for Taffoli. He scored his 18th to bring San Jose within 5-2 at 8:06. But Tolvanen countered with an absolute rocket past replacement netminder Alexandar Georgiev at 12:18 to finalize a 6-2 Kraken victory.

Up Next

As the calendar turns to February, the Kraken have four games remaining before the NHL pauses for the 4 Nations Face-Off. They play at home Sunday against Calgary, Tuesday against Detroit, and Thursday against Toronto. Then it’s off to Calgary for a Feb. 8 rematch with the Flames.