For the Seattle Kraken to recapture the casual portion of their fan base, they not only need to win, they need to win at home.
That objective remained elusive Saturday night at Climate Pledge Arena, as the Kraken fell 4-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes for their third straight defeat, all at home. Not since the Dallas Stars smothered Seattle Oct. 13 has an opponent so thoroughly discombobulated the Kraken offense. If not for Kraken goalie Joey Daccord’s 35 saves and a Jared McCann 3rd period goal, this would have been a shut-rout.
Oh yeah, you think that’s bad? Try this.
Seattle has never achieved a winning record at CPA. They were victorious 16 out of 41 times at home in their expansion season, and 16 out of 40 last year (plus one win at T-Mobile Park). Even in their 46-win playoff season of 2022-23, just 20 of those victories came inside their home building. Early in this new campaign, Seattle sports a 2-1-0 road record, but 2-3-1 where they should enjoy a home-ice advantage.
1st Period
Before the game, coach Dan Bylsma promised only the reunited first line of Matty Beniers, Jordan Eberle and Jared McCann were certain to stay together. That trio accounted for all three goals against Winnipeg on Thursday, with Beniers scoring his first two of the season. Everyone else? “We’re still searching for in-game adjustments,” said the coach.
One of Bylsma’s other adjustments, starting Joey Daccord in net in back-to-back games, pays an early dividend. Carolina’s William Carrier sprints past the Kraken D but Daccord rejects his shot from 18 feet. But Daccord can’t stop Andrei Svechnikov flying down left wing, taking Martin Necas’ pass, and putting a shot over the goalie on the power play at 4:26. Carolina has a PPG in five straight games.
The Kraken unwisely head right back to the PK – two minors (to Brandon Montour and Shane Wright) in the game’s first five minutes. This time the Hurricanes don’t score, thanks to Daccord’s lightning-quick glove hand robbing Jack Drury.
Seth Jarvis steals the puck from Beniers and snaps a wrister into Daccord’s flashy glove. Halfway through the period, the visitors have built a 9-2 edge in shots. Seattle’s puck possession and passing have been, what’s the technical term, yecch. Another misplay leaves Jordan Staal wide open down the right wing, but Daccord bails his mates out again. Shots now 12-2 Carolina.
Sebastian Aho cross-checks McCann, offering a chance for Seattle to reverse the momentum. Two power play SOGs and a crossing-pass near miss by McCann leave the score 1-0 Carolina.
With two minutes left in the period, Andre Burakovsky works free for a grade-A chance that Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen turns aside. SOGs after 20 are 14-5 Carolina.
2nd Period
Troubles with clean zone entries and, again, puck possession, thwart the Kraken from taking advantage of a Svechnikov slash of Jaden Schwartz.
Uh-oh. Jamie Oleksiak can barely skate after blocking a shot off the inside of his knee – but the Kraken can’t clear the zone. Playing 5-against-4, Carolina hems the Kraken in their own zone long enough to make a line change. Oleksiak has to suffer, doubled over except when he straightens to gamely play the puck, until a deflection out of play finally causes a stoppage. Seattle’s “Big Rig” isn’t putting any weight on his left leg as he leaves the ice.
With Oleksiak back in the training area for repairs, the Kraken have to be doubly worried about his health. In addition to hoping he’s not injured, Seattle is already without defenseman Vince Dunn and in a salary-cap stranglehold.
The puck gets behind Daccord, but Adam Larsson sweeps it out of the crease. Later, Seattle survives a Yanni Gourde slashing penalty.
One gets the feeling Seattle trails by just one more because Carolina has repeatedly missed chances rather than the Kraken playing stout defense. At 16:49, the ‘Canes don’t miss. From the doorstep, Drury redirects Jackson Blake’s slap pass for a 2-0 lead. Both visitor goals have been as sweet as Carolina BBQ sauce, but still leave a sour taste for the CPA faithful.
During a late Yanni Gourde double-minor for high-sticking, McCann has a chance to completely change the complexion of the game. Sprung on a shorthanded breakaway, Seattle’s best goal scorer aims five hole, but Andersen plays brick wall in the waning seconds. 2nd period shots are 15-7 Carolina, 29-12 through 40, and Seattle still has 1:04 to kill when the 3rd period starts.
3rd Period
Remember back last May, when the Kraken fired Dave Hakstol? Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amor, without a contract and a friend of Kraken GM Ron Francis, was widely hoped to be named bench boss in Seattle. Instead, the Hurricanes, who would have been insane to let him walk, didn’t.
As the Gourde penalty expires, the Kraken have killed four of five Carolina man advantages. Seattle, 0-for-2 on its own PP, gets a third chance when Jesperi Kotkaniemi goes off for slashing at 5:26.
A Jared McCann off-target shot fells Jaccob Slavin, who is able to skate off under his own power. Carolina’s Brett Burns then appears to trip Shane Wright, which would have created a 5-on-3. It isn’t called, and Seattle doesn’t score.
Time to update the Jared McCann-Frederik Anderson breakaway scoreboard. As of 10:21, it’s now goalie Andersen 1 (save), winger McCann 1 (goal). For McCann, his fifth goal and 12th point, as the first line strikes again.
Moments later, Oliver Bjorkstrand breaks loose on a semi-breakaway, but Andersen denies the game-tying effort. The rally gets delayed two minutes while Seattle kills an Andre Burakovsky minor, leaving them six minutes to find the equalizer. Of note, Oleksiak participated in the PK.
Carolina’s Seth Jarvis put the game out of reach at 15:37 with his own breakaway, deke, and roofed backhand over a falling Daccord.
A Dmitry Orlov empty-netter finalized the score at 4-1 Hurricanes.
Up Next
Their five game homestand now concluded, Seattle jets to Montreal on Sunday. A five game road trip starts against the Canadiens on Tuesday, followed by stops in Toronto, Ottawa, Boston and Colorado. The Kraken return to CPA on Nov. 8 against the Vegas Golden Knights.