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Perfect for a weekend matinee, the Seattle Kraken designated Saturday’s game at Climate Pledge Arena as “Kids Day.” Also a nod, intentional or not, to superstar opponent Sidney “Sid the Kid” Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Kraken goalie Joey Daccord, making his 6th consecutive start, can accurately be described as “in the zone.” Another outstanding performance, punctuated by 28 saves, led Seattle to a 4-1 win and a two-win season sweep of the Penguins.
Seattle got pretty finishes to passing plays by Oliver Bjorkstrand, Eeli Tolvanen and Matty Beniers. Vince Dunn, on a 5-on-3, scored what proved to be the game-winner. Jared McCann and Chandler Stephenson both contributed two assists.
It didn’t help the visitors that Evgeni Malkin left early with an injury, after getting his legs tangled with Stephenson.
Seattle concludes its four game homestand 3-1-0, and have won five of their last seven overall.
1st Period
Three of the Pittsburgh “Big 4” who won three Stanley Cups – Crosby, Malkin, and Kris Letang – are still with the Pens. The fourth, Marc-Andre Fleury, now tends goal for the Minnesota Wild. You can decide if this is a jersey foul or jersey inspiration: a fan arrived at CPA wearing a Penguins #29 Fleury sweater – but with the name “Vince Dunn” taped over Fleury’s name (Dunn wears #29 for Seattle).
A Pittsburgh turnover leaves Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour with oodles of time and space between the circles, but goalie Joel Blomqvist rejects his scoring chance. Halfway through the period, SOGs are Seattle 3, Pittsburgh 2. Low-event start.
Here’s an event: Pens defenseman Erik Karlsson beats Kraken goalie Joey Daccord, but not the post.
As Daccord freezes the puck, Drew O’Connor skates too close to the Kraken goalie for teammate Adam Larsson’s liking. The “Big Cat” pins O’Connor against the corner boards as punishment. Later, an unrepentant O’Connor goes hard to the hoop on a Pens 3-on-2, but Daccord turns him aside.
With Crosby, Malkin, Letang and Karlsson, Pittsburgh is understandably #6 on the power play. They’re meek enough, though, when Eeli Tolvanen takes a hooking penalty.
2nd Period
Already missing Jordan Eberle and Yanni Gourde, the Kraken were faced with the possibility of also being without Chandler Stephenson, Jared McCann and Ryker Evans, all “gametime decisions.” Though ailing, all three are playing because, y’know, they’re hockey players.
Daccord looks sharp foiling Letang on a follow-up save; when Letang’s first try is blocked by Larsson, he retrieves between the hashes for a high-danger second chance.
As so often happens, a great save at one end leads to a goal at the other. It helps when Letang fumbles the puck at the left point. Stephenson races down ice with teammates, so follow the tic-tac-toe puck passing: Stephenson, right circle – Andre Burakovsky, slot – Oliver Bjorkstrand, bottom of the left circle. Blomqvist can’t follow quick enough, as Bjorkstrand scores his 14th for a 1-0 Kraken lead at 2:16.
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Crosby hasn’t completely avoided the Pens ’24-’25 malaise. He leads the team in assists (38) and points (51) coming in, but also has the second-worst plus/minus (-19). He’d also scored just three times in his past 14 games, until 4:34 – the fifth of his career against Seattle.
Three-quarters through the period, the Kraken’s best sustained pressure – by far – sends the visitors back on their heels, but not enough to un-knot the tie.
Pittsburgh’s Cody Glass (slashing) and Letang (cross-checking) take penalties 40 seconds apart, affording the Kraken 1:20 of 5-on-3. Vince Dunn makes them pay with a long-range blast right down the slot at 17:46. Officially the assists go to McCann and Stephenson (for a two-point afternoon), but Jaden Schwartz deserves a stick-tap for screening the goalie.
It’s Seattle’s second 5-on-3 goal this season if you’re scoring at home, or even if you’re by yourself.
Showing little respect for his elders, 23-year-old Evans delivers a hard check into 37-year-old Crosby at the side boards.
3rd Period
Did you know the worst defense statistically in the NHL belongs to the Pittsburgh Penguins? That’s right, the Pens allow a league-worst 3.62 goals per game. Seattle is #22, 3.16 goals allowed.
Daccord, following up a superior effort against the Capitals Thursday, makes four saves in a 20-second span. Anthony Beauvillier, Letang, Rickard Rakell, and finally Crosby, all denied.
Eeli Tolvanen is the insurance (goal) man, providing Seattle with a 3-1 cushion at 5:06. His 12th is assisted by McCann (second apple) and Shane Wright. Note to opponents: it’s not wise to leave a sharpshooter like Tolvanen open on the inner edge of the circle, where McCann found him with a pinpoint pass from the far boards.
Kraken friendly fire fells Brandon Tanev on a Jamie Oleksiak shot. Tanev makes his way to the bench, then doubles over. Penguins friendly fire finds Matt Nieto up high just outside Daccord’s crease. It takes a few moments for Neito to gingerly reach his bench.
When Josh Mahura is called for tripping, the song played in the arena is “It’s Lonely In The Penalty Box,” written by 1970’s Broad Street Bully Dave Schultz. Great Kraken teamwork makes Mahura feel less lonely. Larsson’s stick breaks; since it’s more important for defensemen to have twigs than forwards, Stephenson hands Larsson his stick. Seeing an opportunity, Chandler skates to the Kraken bench, where backup goalie Philipp Grubauer is ready with a replacement stick. That’s the Kraken relay team, baby!
Patience is a virtue, and in this case, a goal for a 4-1 Seattle lead at 13:06. The Pens somehow allow both Kappo Kakko and Matty Beniers to get behind them. Skating toward the net, Kakko waits, waits, waits (with multiple shoulder shimmies for added deception), then threads a pass to Beniers who fires in one motion for his 11th goal.
Up Next
In a scheduling quirk, the Kraken are in a stretch of nine home games and one on the road. The “one” is a quick stop in Edmonton to face the Oilers on Monday, Jan. 27. A night later, they begin a new homestand at CPA by hosting the Anaheim Ducks.