Ah yes…as we all suspected?
But First, the Highlights!
Game Notes
- Your TOI leader was Adam Larsson, who logged 24:11
- There is no real sneaky trick the Kraken used to get their win tonight. Aside from maybe their practice-time lineup change. From the onset, the Kraken just absolutely kicked the Canes up and down the ice; particularly from the 2nd period, where they managed to drop 14 shots in a period, and scored on one of them. They crammed shots directly on Kochetkov, and met the Canes’ forecheck with an even more hellacious one; getting back a little bit of that smooth skating menace that made them so formidable previously. They completely beat the Canes at their own game of a strangling 5v5 game, and forcing mistakes from said crushing possession. All of that finished up in one good ol’ fashioned whoopin’ they used to make handcrafted.
- Part of what made the Canes so ineffective is that Seattle blocked just about all of their shot attempts; putting up 25 blocks while Carolina only blocked about 11.
- Special Teams were once again an odd duck in the wake of that gravity well of an even-strength game. The only power play Carolina got they scored on, and Seattle couldn’t capitalize on the two power plays they had. Funny thing is? It really didn’t matter.
- Joey didn’t have an ideal night, but a big part of why he ended up with a .895 SV% is that the Canes only put 19 shots on him through 60 minutes. I think i’d like that Robinson goal back, but then again…so would everyone who was on the ice for it.
- Color me genuinely shocked that they were able to put together a game that complete after the disastrous week they just had. They are still on a tough road trip, but getting over this hump, taking advantage of the Islanders, and potentially catching the Rangers while they’re going through their “my tummy hurt disease” phase could claw them back to where they were prior to last week’s debacle.
Lets Give A Hand To…
- Jaden Schwartz was one of three players to get 2 points tonight, and was the opening scorer at a brisk 19 seconds of game time. Always a good omen, amirite? Great game from him.
- Yanni Gourde got moved up to Line 1, and by all accounts seems to have acquitted himself to the role excellently; The pepper-pot was a major force of possession, and had 2 points from a goal in the 3rd period, and a helper on Schwartz’ goal.
- Matty Beniers didn’t have a goal tonight, but he was a damn fine possession player, and finished the night with assists on Schwartz’ and Gourde’s goal. Good on you!
- Ryan Winterton got his first NHL point on Tanev’s tally by throwing the puck to him. Congratulations!
- All of the game’s goals were sweet examples of athletic excellence, but Brandon Tanev‘s final tally was, at least in my opinion, the most fun. When Turbo’s on his horse, it’s clear nobody can actually stop him. That goal on it’s own would’ve gotten him mentioned here, but taking the time to pull the puck out of the net to make sure Ryan Winterton got a souvenir from the night? That’s class. Good on you, Turbo.
The Charts, via NaturalStatTrick.com
It is wild how they managed to do this to “Puck Possession: the Team”.
The Kraken continue their Metro road trip, as they take on the New York Islanders on their home turf on Long Island. That game is on Thursday, and it starts at 4:30pm PT.
We’ll see you there! Thank you for reading, and as always:
Keep Calm, and Post Zoidberg When We Win.