Fans at Climate Pledge Arena Monday were treated to a good old-fashioned goaltending duel. The Seattle Kraken’s Philipp Grubauer (26 saves, 2nd star) and the New Jersey Devils’ Jacob Markstrom (22 saves, 1st star) matched ridiculous stop for ridiculous stop.
When it was over, the Devils escaped with a 3-2 victory. It took a perfectly placed Ondrej Palat shot to beat Grubauer for the game winner in the 3rd period, 37 seconds after Shane Wright – one day after celebrating his 21st birthday – had tied the game on a Kraken power play. Adam Larsson had the other Kraken goal, on a night they deserved two or three more.
Seattle concludes its four-game homestand 1-2-1.
Sunday, goalie Joey Daccord and center Yanni Gourde joined captain Jordan Eberle on the Kraken injured reserve list.
1st Period
@Jennthulhu_Photos
On Pride Night at CPA, Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer looks sharp in warmups combining Pride Tape on his stick with his Indigenous Peoples Night mask.
Jersey’s Jack Hughes with an early test for Grubauer’s left pad, which has the answer.
The Kraken netminder isn’t getting enough help from his friends. He makes a terrific save on Nico Hischier’s drive from the slot, but Dawson Mercer deposits the loose change at 7:58 when no Seattle defender boxes him out.
Jamie Oleksiak stubs a cross-ice pass in his own zone, creating a gift grade-A chance for Timo Meier all alone between the circles. Grubauer, who’s upped his game in the absence of Daccord, again bails out his mates.
From the far boards, defenseman Adam Larsson’s wrister may have ramped up off the stick of Jersey’s Nathan Bastian. Whether it did or not, the puck goes through Devils goalie Jacob Markstrom to create a 1-1 deadlock at 15:47. Jared McCann, standing in front, took away the goalie’s eyes, for which he paid a price.
KHN Screengrab
In case you missed it during the video, McCann’s screen was completely legal – and completely unappreciated by the goalie. Markstrom let the Kraken forward know just how unappreciated with a post-goal whack between McCann’s legs.
McCann took a lingerling look back at Markstrom and considered retaliation before the officials intervened. Jared didn’t even get recognized with an assist, just a bruise.
Seattle almost takes the lead on a slick passing display moments later. Shane Wright to Eeli Tolvanen to the trailer Oliver Bjorkstrand, whose laser hits Markstrom’s rising left arm. The Devils’ goalie then denies Andre Burakovsky’s breakaway and Kaapo Kakko’s scoring chance.
With the late flurries, Seattle leads in shots after one, 13-11.
2nd Period
Relevant tonight, cryptids. Cryptids are mythical or supernatural creatures who many swear actually exist. Kraken are cryptids. The Jersey Devil is a cryptid. Both are also hockey teams which definitely exist.
The numbers make it a mystery how the Devils could come into CPA on a four-game losing streak. NJ is 4th in goals-against, 11th in goals for; special teams are just that: 2nd on the power play, 5th on the penalty kill. This is a quality team ripe for the taking.
19 minutes of uneventful hockey is followed by all hell breaking lose. First, Kraken skaters pretend they’re a closeline – which means they leave Grubauer out to dry. Paul Cotter, with no Kraken in his way, gives New Jersey at 2-1 lead at 19:35.
Before the period can end, Jonas Siegenthaler dangerously cross-checks Jaden Schwartz into the corner boards. Other Kraken on ice naturally object to this, leading to pushing, face-washing, and a variety of wrestling holds. Ryker Evans blows a kiss at Stefan Noesen, though I doubt he’s feeling romantic. In addition to Sieganthaler’s minor, Brandon Montour and Brett Pesce are assessed fighting majors.
New Jersey outshoots Seattle 11-4 in the period, and 22-17 after 40 minutes.
3rd Period
Your “Not Kraken” hockey moment:
During an intermission interview, Kraken assistant coach Bob Woods called the Siegenthaler cross-check “dirty.” Seattle will have 1:52 of power play time to make him pay.
The young guns team up to do just that. Kappo Kakko (age 23) sends a pass from below the goal line to birthday boy Shane Wright (age 21 plus one day) for his 8th goal and team-leading 5th of the year on the power play to forge a 2-2 tie at 1:24.
The Devils un-forge the tie 37 seconds later. Ondrej Palat with a just tip your cap, that was a great shot goal under the crossbar.
Not long after, Eeli Tolvanen stands at the right post, incredulous that he wasn’t able to tie the game. Kakko hit Schwartz, who found Tolvanen with a pinpoint pass at the right edge of the crease. Markstrom speared it with his glove. No wonder he had a 9-0-1 stretch earlier this season.
Win or lose, Grubauer has been fantastic. He robs Hughes again when he’s left open to shoot a dart from the right circle. Markstrom added to his spectacular night by stopping Matty Beniers twice in close, knocking a tumbling rebound out of the air with his stick while prone on the ice.
Up Next
The Kraken begin a five-game road swing Thursday in Columbus against the Blue Jackets. Weekend afternoon games in Buffalo and Detroit follow, with the trip concluding in Pittsburgh and Winnipeg. Seattle returns home to face the L.A. Kings on Saturday, Jan. 18.