GOING TO THE BURGERMASTER IN MT. VERNON AND ANNOUNCING THAT THE KRAKEN ARE BACK, BABY
But first, the Highlights!
Game Notes
- Your TOI Leader was Adam Larsson with 24:38 logged!
- This was exactly the kind of game that the Kraken needed to show that they were getting the message from their embarrassment early this week. They played hard, they controlled play for good stretches, and cut open the Canucks’ defense like a sardine can. If they can keep this up, maybe we can look at this game as a turning point?
- The power play unfortunately went cold tonight, but thankfully the penalty kill managed to hold itself together against an otherwise very dangerous Vancouver squad. I’ll take it, though once again zone entries with a man-advantage could use some work. It really shouldn’t be that hard to get the puck past at most two players trying to seal off the boards.
- Most controversial coming out of this game will almost certainly be Jordan Eberle’s second period tally, which was a tip-in of Ollie Bjorkstrand’s shot from the point, and was reviewed to see if Eberle’s stick was above the crossbar. Personally? I think it was good the whole time; Eberle’s quick stickwork might’ve had it above the bar before the puck makes contract, but being in a battle for space with Vancouver’s Filip Hronek gave him the perfect leverage to knock that one in. Great shot on Bjorky to get that nearly all the way to net, too!
- Of course if the Canucks faithful are mad about it maybe their otherwise very successful goaltender should not allow the puck to squib through his legs like that? Just saying.
- The Kraken correctly recognized that if they could keep Pettersson, Hughes, and Miller’s contributions to an absolute minimum, they had a chance. They managed to keep their contribution to the score to the game-tying goal in the 2nd period and that was it; an otherwise mediocre night for three players that have been a nightmare for every other team in-division, and a stellar job by the Seattle backcheck for a good portion of this game.
- Neither goalie had a SV% above .900, but this would be the millionth time I’d say “Seattle’s net-front defense can either exist or not exist” so we’ll just go with “Congrats to the Kraken on breaking through Thatcher Demko by being practically up his nose on every shot.”
- I would however like the Kraken to please just score an Empty Netter and break the hearts of the opponent in the final 2 minutes of games in which the opposing netminder has gone to the bench, rather than give them hope. It’s driving the fanbase to drink, Squids! Nobody should be watching regular season hockey like they’re playing a game seven every night! It’s gonna kill somebody!
- Away from the ice, let’s hear it for our Passport-having and Canadian Kraken fanbase that made a strong showing over at Rogers Place. This team may make you want to pull your hair out, but Seattle travels very well regardless.
- The Kraken are now at 18 points in the standings, which ties Arizona and Anaheim for the first and second wildcard, though the Kraken’s offensive struggles have ensured that the Yotes and the Ducks are in control for now. Let’s see if the Kraken can capitalize.
Let’s Give A Hand To…
- Matty Beniers! Who had a goal and a primary assist on Oleksiak’s tally. I’ve already said this, but this is the Matty we’ve come to expect, and it’s good that he’s finally finding his groove again. He was absolutely phenomenal tonight.
- Jamie Oleksiak! Got this whole ball rolling with an absolute bullet.
- The Second Period effort! I have harped on this day in, and day out about Seattle’s efforts in their middle frame, and honestly? This was a much improved game for the Kraken; they didn’t immediately get murdered by lackadaisical effort, and that gave them the jumping off point to win the third! Funny how that works!
- Pretty much everybody on the ice for Yanni Gourde’s Goal. I gotta tell ya; I love penalty shots, I love big hammering shots, I love big hits and scrums, and I love power play goals…but the parts of the game I love most of all is watching a team I’m rooting for peel a defense apart like they’re dissecting a frog, and that shift was just picture perfect. I could watch it on loop for hours.
- Jordan Eberle! Three points including that mildly controversial goal. He was very sorely missed, and this was exactly why. First star well-deserved.
The NaturalStatTrick.com Charts!
The Kraken come home on Sunday, and then host the Calgary Flames on Monday night at 7pm PT. Let’s get a good do-over from an Alberta squad.
We will see you there, thank you so very much…and as always
Keep Calm, and Post Zoidberg When We Win
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