Kraken Perform Mid-Air Magic, Outscore Canucks 6-3 At CPA

We won’t know for sure until later this week how many of the Seattle Kraken were solely playing against the Vancouver Canucks Saturday – and how many were also auditioning.

A raft of NHL scouts joined fans at Climate Pledge Arena to watch the Kraken get deflection goals from Matty Beniers, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Eeli Tolvanen in the 2nd period, on the way to a 6-3 victory over the Canucks.

The deft displays of stick-eye coordination were supported by Joey Daccord’s 28 saves. Tolvanen scored again into an empty net, Andre Burkovsky and Brandon Montour (two points) had the other Seattle goals, and Shane Wright chipped in a pair of assists.

With Friday’s NHL Trade deadline looming, contenders are looking for spare parts to give them an extra edge come playoff time. The Kraken, hopelessly out of the running, are expected to be sellers. That makes for a nervous week, with Seattle players not sure how many more games they’ll be wearing the sea-blue “S” on their jerseys.

1st Period

The Kraken had four long days to stew over allowing the first seven goals in St. Louis on Tuesday. They took it out on the Canucks in the first 10 minutes. First, Andre Burakovsky’s 6th of the season gives Seattle a 1-0 lead at 5:47. Shane Wright, who lugged the puck in the zone and fed Burakovsky in the slot, picks up his 22nd assist.

Jordan Eberle, playing his first home game since a 40-contest injury absence, takes a slashing penalty. But his mates diffuse the Canucks PP with little difficulty. Soon after, defenseman Brandon Montour lays a crushing hit on Dakota Joshua.

If Vince Dunn didn’t just commit his worst turnover of the season, it’ll do until we think of it. From the near corner, Dunn couldn’t have sent a better blind pass to Pius Suter in the left circle if he was wearing a Vancouver sweater. Suter fires past an unsuspecting Joey Daccord to tie the game 1-1 at 11:35.

On another Kraken giveaway with four minutes left, Jake DeBrusk hits the post. Seattle isn’t so lucky at 16:27, when Filip Chytil drags the puck wide of Daccord’s outstretched leg and inside the near left post for a 2-1 lead. Chytil arrived via trade from the Rangers in late January. Oliver Bjorkstrand breaking a stick on a shot block, which also changed the puck’s trajectory, didn’t help.

2nd Period

Let’s see how other locals are faring on this busy Seattle sports Saturday. The MLS Sounders scored an own goal in a 2-0 loss to Real Salt Lake. In Cactus League baseball, the Mariners rallied for seven runs in the bottom of the ninth – but still lost to the White Sox, 18-9. The Washington Huskies men’s team fell to 4-14 in its first Big 10 season, losing 76-62 at home to Indiana.

Sheesh. It’s up to the Kraken to uphold Seattle’s sports honor today. They start by killing off the last 41 seconds of Jamie Oleksiak’s 1st period holding penalty. Just after it ends, DeBrusk deflects another shot off the post.

Extended Kraken zone time leads to Bjorkstrand’s tying goal at 4:11. Shane Wright, earning his second assist, feeds Montour at the line. The defenseman wisely chips the puck goalward at 3/4 speed, slow enough that Bjorkstrand can deflect it out of midair for his 16th goal.

The obligatory grade-A shorthanded chance against the Kraken provides the visitors with a 3-2 lead at 8:05. Joshua goes forehand-backhand to undress Daccord. It’s Vancouver’s first shot of the period.

It’s a shame Matty Beniers can’t also get an assist on his 14th goal that ties the game 3-3 at 12:08. Beniers cleanly wins the draw and slides into the slot, so he’s in position to tip Dunn’s blast past Kevin Lankinen.

Rinse and repeat for Seattle exactly 60 seconds later. This time, the defenseman is Ryker Evans shooting, the deflection goal comes off the stick of Eeli Tolvanen, his 17th, for a 4-3 Kraken lead.

Chytil, sniffing a 2nd goal tonight, is stoned by Daccord from in close on just Vancouver’s third shot of the period.

3rd Period

The Canucks haven’t won this season when trailing after two periods; the Kraken haven’t lost when leading after two.

For a change, no Kraken deflects Brandon Montour’s rocket – but that’s okay, because Montour’s 11th sails past Lankinen cleanly at 5:38 for the first two goal lead either team has enjoyed. In fact, Eberle, standing in front, had the veteran savvy to move out of the way of the defenseman’s 86 mph slapper.

Dunn dove in the crease behind his netminder to save a goal when Nils Hoglander’s shot eluded Daccord. Later, Daccord thrills the crowd by diving on a loose puck like it’s a grenade after losing his goal stick.

Up Next

Seattle has two contests remaining until the trade deadline, Tuesday at home vs. Minnesota and Thursday at Nashville. It won’t take long to see the post-deadline Kraken roster in action, as ABC will be televising the Kraken’s game at Philadelphia Saturday, Mar. 8, with a 9:30 am Pacific Time puck drop.