Sky On Air’s game story recounting Seattle’s 2-1 win in L.A. is here. What follows are further observations from one of the signature victories of the Kraken season.
Let’s dip into the DJLR Seattle Kraken Mailbag. “Hockey Curious In Shoreline” writes:
“Watching Monday’s Kraken-Kings game, I’m wondering, did the NHL
change its rule on how many sticks players can use at one time?
It used to be, the league frowned on using two or more.”
Great question, HCIS! You’re referring to L.A.’s Quentin Byfield, tangled up with Seattle’s Shane Wright in front of the net early in the 1st period.
As seen in the featured photo above, Byfield has a death grip on Wright’s twig as well as his own. That’s a no-no, according to NHL Rule 54.2, which states in part, “A minor penalty shall be assessed to a player who holds an opponent’s stick.”
So, no matter how skillfully Byfield deflected a shot with one hand on his own stick, then shoveled the puck home with the stick wielded in that same right hand, his left hand should have been whistled and sent to the box.
Kraken Lengthy 5-on-3 Penalty Kill Turned Momentum
The game’s key sequence arguably came midway through the 1st period, with L.A. holding that 1-0 lead. Josh Mahura and Adam Larsson took penalties nine seconds apart. That meant the Kraken would not only be down two men for 1:51, they would be down two defensemen.
Seattle’s PKers rose to the occasion, limiting the Kings to one shot on goal. While shorthanded, Brandon Montour and Matty Beniers – who would both score before period’s end – contributed two of Seattle’s 30 blocks on the night. “A lot of gutsy efforts there. Guys paying the price,” said Kraken coach Dan Bylsma about the sacrifice of blocking shots. Once Mahura and Larsson were freed from detention, it’s no coincidence the Kraken scored twice soon after.
1st Star Montour Excels At Both Ends
Montour called the victory, “One of our most complete 60-minute games.” The defenseman scored the winning goal on a 3-on-2 rush at 19:29 of the 1st period, 54 seconds after Beniers’ 19th of the season had tied the game. “After the deadline, we’ve become a better team. We’re fighting to the end,” Montour added.
By the way, if Beniers plays for 20 years, he’ll never score a goal that travels a shorter distance to cross the goal line. The red circle shows where Beniers (10) made contact with the puck. Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper (35) being in El Segundo at the time didn’t hurt.
Montour’s career-high 17th goal wasn’t the only reason he was named 1st star. With five minutes to play, Kraken goalie Joey Daccord kicked Anze Kopitar’s shot toward the bottom of the near left circle.
With the goalie still at the top of the crease on the far side, see how much net Andrei Kuzmenko (96) has to shoot at? No worries, though, because just before Kuzmenko could pounce and tie the game, Montour (62) swept the puck out of danger.
Da Best From Daccord
Kraken goalie Daccord, who’s appeared in 31 of the team’s last 36 games since Jan. 9, has built his strongest stretch of the season. Even getting bowled over by L.A.’s Trevor Moore, who lost his balance 40 seconds in, didn’t faze him. Over the last three games, all road wins, the goalie stopped 76 of 78 shots. Going back to a 36-save win over Edmonton on Mar. 27, Daccord has allowed one goal or fewer in four of his last five starts.
Refer to the above numbers should you grow concerned that coach Bylsma has been overworking his #1 netminder. Of course, goalposts help those who help themselves. The iron came to Joey’s aid twice in the 3rd period, on shots by Warren Foegele with 12 minutes left, and Brandt Clarke after that.
Kuemper Sticks With It
Kuemper (35) atoned for his earlier wandering with an unbelievable stick save on what looked like a sure Jaden Schwartz (17) score. The goalie reached behind him with his stick to thwart Schwartz’s bid for his 25th goal. The save reminded many of Washington netminder Braden Holtby’s robbery of Vegas’ Alex Tuch in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final.
Even though Kuemper gave up only two goals, and none after the 1st period, the Kraken beating him for a second time this season is a major accomplishment. The Kings goalie is 2nd in the entire NHL in GAA (2.03) and 4th in save percentage (.922). Eeli Tolvanen hit the post on his first of two 2nd period breakaways; Kuemper stoned him four minutes later.
The loss broke Kuemper’s personal 15-game home points streak (14-0-1). In fact, Seattle achieved a rare feat, handing L.A. just their 5th regulation loss all season at Crypto.com Arena. “We knew their home record,” said Chandler Stephenson. “We want to hold ourselves to a certain standard heading into next year. Against a good team, we want to be able to win games like that.”
L.A.’s home record, 29-5-4, is still best in the league. But even Ron Burgundy couldn’t help them beat the Kraken on this evening.
Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images