So long 2025, and so long Seattle Kraken four-game winning streak.
Monday at Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle held 1-0 and 2-1 leads in their first meeting against Pacific Division rival Vancouver Canucks.
But after Vancouver twice rallied to tie, Liam Ohgren’s shootout goal propelled the visitors to a 3-2 victory. None of that would have been possible without Kevin Lankinen’s 37 saves, 16 in the 3rd period alone.
Jared McCann, in just his second game back from his latest stint on IR, contributed both a power play goal and a fight before the first period ended. The Kraken power play has recorded goals in eight of the team’s last 11 games between Dec. 7-29 (10-for-34). But the team went 1-for-6 with the extra man overall, including a failed 4-on-3 in overtime.
Ryan Winterton also scored in the 1st, receiving a pretty pass from Jacob Melanson, his first NHL point. Melanson added his usual chaos, a team-leading four hits. Joey Daccord made 22 saves, and drew an assist on the Winterton goal, his third apple in 24 games this season.
And you thought Joey’s shooting in pregame warmups was just for fun.
The Kraken pick up their first point wearing those still semi-cursed 3rd jerseys, and fail to win on the tail end of back-to-back games. Seattle’s victory in a back-to-back earlier this month remains their only success since the Mesozoic Era.
1st Period
Revealing “Tale of the Tape” as Seattle and Vancouver clash to close the calendar year.
- Decent power plays: SEA 11th (21%), VAN 13th (20.3%)
- Woeful penalty kills: VAN 30th (74.6%), SEA 31st (71.2%)
- Goal-challenged: VAN 23rd (2.8/gm), SEA 30th (2.6/gm)
The one clear statistical advantage belongs to the Kraken, in the category of goals-allowed per game. Seattle is 12th in the NHL at 2.92, while Vancouver is a dismal 31st, 3.46.
The Kraken bid to score their first 1st period goal since Dec. 6 when Kaapo Kakko flies in on a breakaway 45 seconds after puck drop. Vancouver goalie Kevin Lankinen makes a 10-bell glove save.
The miserable Vancouver start includes Tyler Myers cross-checking Jacob Melanson. Jordan Eberle weaves right to the crease, but Lankinen won’t budge. After the power play ends, and with Lankinen out of position, Canucks defenseman Marcus Pettersson saves a goal with a sliding block of Vince Dunn’s shot.
A Canucks power play lasts 10 seconds, as a Shane Wright slash is followed by a Linus Karlsson trip. Elias Pettersson low-bridges Matty Beniers, sending the Kraken center flying. That isn’t called, but Vancouver is soon called for a two-many-men bench minor. All of four seconds later, Jared McCann makes them pay for the self-inflicted wound at 8:50, a one-timer with too much mustard for Lankinen’s glove.
Before a faceoff in the Kraken zone, McCann takes exception to a cheap-shot elbow from Vancouver’s Conor Garland. The goal-scorer invites Garland to drop the gloves.
When the faceoff does happen, Seattle wishes it hadn’t. Linus Karlsson slams a short-range drive past Daccord’s blocker to tie the game 1-1 at 15:20 – three seconds after McCann and Garland were sent off for fighting.
To these eyes, the Canucks would have been lucky to take a deadlock into the dressing room, though they did tilt the ice in the final five minutes. But an awkward line change gives Seattle an opening to retake the lead.
Canucks defenseman Elias Pettersson (not the forward Elias Petterson, and not the defenseman Marcus Pettersson) jumps off the bench and proceeds to bump into d-partner Myers. Melanson, knowing a good thing when he sees it, flies past the duo, centering to Ryan Winterton for the go-ahead tap-in at 19:40.
The assist is Melanson’s first NHL point. Shots favored Seattle, 14-12.
2nd Period
The Kraken have an identical record (8-7-3) at home and on the road this season, which will be true until tonight’s final horn.
An early stoppage for a puck-to-the-face injury. The unlucky skater is referee Jon McIsaac, whose cheek got in the path of an attempted Evander Kane clear. McIssac stays in the game, because he’s a hockey guy. McIssac, also a former golf pro in his native Nova Scotia, has been a full-time NHL ref since 2016.
Vancouver ties the game for the second time at 5:23. From the slot, Elias Pettersson (the center) shoots across his body and beats Daccord over his glove hand.
Savings time: Daccord makes his best save, as Max Sasson retrieves a loose puck at inner edge of the left circle. Freddy Gaudreau calls his own number on a Kraken 2-on-1, but Lankinen chests down Gaudreau’s high backhand.
Each of those low-ranked PK units kills an opposition power play. Seattle is 2-2 on the PK, Vancouver 3-4. Shots after 40 are 21-20 Canucks.
3rd Period
MoneyPuck.com’s “Deserve To Win O’Meter” gives Seattle a 63%-37% edge. So is the 3rd period really necessary?
Remember, this is the second of a back-to-back for Seattle, so it’s possible the legs are starting to feel a bit heavy.
Seattle can’t break the tie on its fifth power play. Lankinen made tremendous saves on right circle blasts from Tolvanen and McCann, and a third on Kakko. More Lankinen magic later: stifling high-danger chances from McCann, Berkly Catton, and Jordan Eberle. With 2:45 left, Winterton and McCann get stoned by the goalie on two more great chances.
3rd period shots were 16-3 Seattle. Quite simply, the Vancouver goalie stole a point for his team.
Overtime
Seattle’s Cale Fleury slides around Evander Kane, who’s forced to trip him. The penalty is signaled with 2:16 left in OT, but by the time Vancouver touches up the puck, there’s 1:40 left in the extra session. Lankinen makes a dynamite save on Vince Dunn’s wide-open cannon from the right circle just before the horn. Seattle finishes 1-for-6 on the power play, and to the shootout we go.
Shootout
Seattle: Freddy Gaudreau – save
Vancouver: Conor Garland – save
Seattle: Eeli Tolvanen – miss
Vancouver: Elias Petterson – ruled no goal because he lost control of the puck before scoring
Seattle: Jordan Eberle – save
Vancouver: Liam Ohgren – goal
Up Next
The Kraken ring in 2026 with a New Year’s Evening game at Climate Pledge against the Nashville Predators. Then it’s up to Vancouver for a Friday rematch with the Canucks.