How’s that for offense?
But First, the Highlights!
Game Notes
- Your TOI leader was Jamie Oleksiak, with 26:01 logged.
- The Kraken were in danger of giving this entire game away thanks to the same sloppy defense issues that have plagued these early contests for Seattle, but proceeded to absolutely molly-whop the Preds in the third period; it really seemed like their game largely clicked into place in the final frame where passing became crisper, zone entries were less tortured, and when they were able to better use the ice in front of them, even their ability to win battles along the boards improved. If they’re able to figure out how to avoid doing the part where the passing is careless for the first period or so, then they should be on easy street.
- Scoring from the depth is also gonna be huge for the Kraken going forward; they got those seven goals tonight in the honest style; a new face contributed with each. Also ended up with multiple players with 2 point nights as a result. When we’re all pitching in, there’s a win to be found!
- Jamie Oleksiak’s 26 minutes and change TOI is pretty significant as it is a clear sign that Dan Bylsma has found another pairing that can eat big minutes. That’ll be huge for the team going forward as the team can put trust in Oleksiak-Montour that allows them to take the heat off of Dunn-Larsson.
- Matty got an assist tonight that was my go-to maneuver for getting goals scored in the NHL games; pull the defense away from the goalie, pass to the net-front, free assist from netcrashing teammate. Wild that sort of thing can work in real-life and with such…i dunno, immediacy? Great stuff from him tonight, him and Canner brought it. We’ll talk about it down in plaudits.
- 0-fer on the power play, but given how the penalties were being doled out in this game, I will happily take all that 5v5 scoring instead. Walking away from the 4-on-3 look Nashville had relatively unscathed was also something to be proud of.
- JOEY. DACCORD. While sure, his .909 SV% doesn’t seem all that impressive on it’s face, it tells lies; This was a game in which Joey made a major case for himself in winning the starting job full-time. He was pretty damn good all night, but his signed and sealed highlight of making two major stops on Filip Forsberg in rapid succession towards the end of the second period will be the thing he points to and then back to himself. Absolutely big work done bigly tonight by the Mayor.
- The Kraken slayed a significant dragon in scoring an empty net goal. You might think as a layperson that this is not a particular challenge, but real heads know how big this was. This was a huge step; on the same level as not giving up an empty netter in a loss.
Lets give a hand to…
This list is like a phonebook.
- Joey Daccord for that unreal series of saves on Filip Forsberg! Forsberg is a damn good hockey player, I’d have loved him in Seattle, but watching him get stoned twice in 5 seconds was just exceptional. Good win to put under his belt!
- Jordan Eberle seems to be taking his captaincy seriously, as he followed up Jaden Schwartz’s tally with a bullet from a McCann feed. I think he’s still very good, friends. I think he’s still very very good indeed
- Brandon Tanev and Brandon Montour for their effort on Turbo’s goal. Monty let that sucker rip, and Turbo had already done the gruntwork of establishing net-front presence, and of course the kind of hand-eye necessary to balloon the score.
- Jaden Schwartz for scoring one of the most casual looking goals I’ve seen these Kraken score in a good long while. That was nostalgic for me; the good Kraken season had a lot of those. I want those back, and we got one tonight. This is what I mean by restoring the feeling for the Kraken; they were at their best when the skating is smooth and the other team seems to fall asleep at the wheel and panic when they realize where things actually are. Seattle is bringing that back in fits and starts. Schwartz’s goal is a big part of that.
- Jared McCann probably could’ve ended up missing the net in a million different ways on account of how many Predators were in front of it when he took his shot. He didn’t care, and made a chance at it with Matty having taken most of the heat away from him. Excellent work and a well-deserved goal!
- Ollie Bjorkstrand got his first goal of the season tonight on a 3-on-1, and the maestro put some EMPHASIS on it. He’s been otherwise his same ol’ Maestro self, but it’s always nice to see a guy doing all the little things in the game get rewarded for it. Well done, well done.
- Ryker Evans for getting the ball rolling on a strong wrist shot from below the left circle!
- Matty Beniers for the kind of assists you’re normally only allowed to pull off in video games!
- Bjorkstrand, McCann, Stephenson, and Schwartz each get a second plaudit for their two point night. Excellent work!
The Charts, via NaturalStatTrick.com
Like I said; if they can keep the intensity and also the puck possession acumen across all three periods, as opposed to the later 30 minutes, there’s a winning formula in this game.
Also CONTINUE TO HELP YOUR GOALTENDER, PLEASE
The Kraken make their return to CPA and Seattle proper on Thursday, where they will begin a five game homestand against the Flyers. That game is at 7pm PT.
Thanks for reading, and as always
Keep Calm, and Post Zoidberg When We Win