Kraken @ Bruins RECAP: Wicked Victory at the GAH-Den

Roll the Highlight Reel!

Game Notes

The Bruins began this game in a little two-game losing streak, but they’ve played well this season. Boston came out swinging, peppering Joey Daccord with 16 shots in the first period and scoring within the first 5 minutes. The Bruins showed their teeth early but ran into a Kraken team itching for two wins in a row.

The Kraken found their stride and kept the momentum going. It seems like the turning point was a power play at 12 minutes remaining in the first period. Boston’s PK is 7^th in the league, so nothing to sneeze at, but they couldn’t kill this one. Jordan Eberle got a power play goal to tie up the game and then it was off to the races. With Daccord making impressive saves and the Kraken showing a little more aggression, it looked like the tides were turning.

In the second period, the Bruins’ Brandon Carlo seemed to trip over his own feet and Eeli Tolvanen and Matty Beniers quickly capitalized on the mistake. After a steal, Tolvanen scored with a Beniers assist and the Kraken took the lead, 2 – 1. Later, Carlo joked that he “might need to take some skating lessons tomorrow.”

In the the third period, Matty capitalized on another opportunity and scored with an assist by Alex Wennberg to make it 3 – 1. And to put a cherry on top of that sundae, McCann scored an empty net goal to round out the period and secure the Kraken victory with a score of 4 – 1.

For the Kraken, the other big story of the night was the return of two local boys. Both Matty Beniers and Joey Daccord hail from the Boston area and both were the standouts of the game.

“It was a really special night. I’m just trying to put everything all in perspective. I grew up through-and-through a Boston sports fan. I was here when the Bruins won the cup. I went to game six. It’s been a long road. I’m obviously pretty old for a rookie and my first time playing in the Garden, it couldn’t have been more special,” Daccord said after the game.

“I know he was super excited about it,” Beniers said of Daccord and he returning to Boston to play. “Boston kids loving coming home to Boston. I know he was pumped up. I was pumped up, and so it was fun to get the win.”

Let’s Give a Hand To…

• Joey Daccord. Before the first 10 minutes of the game were through, Joey had already seen eight shots. Dude was BUSY. But he had beautiful saves the entire game. He certainly padded his season highlight reel tonight.
• Matty Beniers. The hometown boy played smarter, not harder, and ended up with a goal and 2 assists.
• Jared McCann. It takes a tough guy to double over in pain in the second period, return to the bench, and get a game-ending empty net goal, his 22^nd goal of the season.
• The greater Boston metropolitan area. Add two more bullets to the list of things gifted to us by Boston: Matty Beniers and Joey Daccord, both of whom got a win in front of their friends and family in attendance.
• The plumbing. The Kraken had a lot of luck with the hardware tonight as the Bruins had at least three shots ricochet off the pipes. If those goal posts were sentient, we should get ’em a contract.

Three Stars of the Game

⭐ Joey Daccord (.973 SV%)
⭐⭐ Matty Beniers (1G, 2A)
⭐⭐⭐ David Pastrňák (1G)

Here’s tonight’s Natural Stat Trick heat map, showing some Kraken restraint:

Next, the Kraken return for a long stretch at home, facing some tough opponents at Climate Pledge. We’ll see them take on the Red Wings next in a President’s Day battle.