The Kraken played their second of two preseason games against the Calgary Flames, whom they defeated in preseason play 3-1 on Sunday September 20th. Because of NHL roster rules starting this season, any player with over 100 games of NHL experience can only play a maximum of two (out of four possible) preseason games. The Kraken chose to save the final two games for the veteran-heavy group, giving us the first action of an approximation of the final roster. The Flames, on the other hand, have chosen to go with a youth-heavy roster with players who will not be in the NHL on opening day.
Surely Seattle’s veterans will dominate Calgary’s AHL roster, right?
…right?
1st period
Calgary came out looking like the better team, and set up the first goal by winning a board battle, there isn’t coverage in front and the Flames took the lead early.
Seattle tied the game (not pictured due to video technical difficulties) when Jordan Eberle received a pass from Chandler Stephenson and was doubleteamed, got the puck to Bobby McMann who tied it with a very nicely-placed shot.
Seattle was outworked and outshot. Did I mention the Kraken are playing their NHL roster and the Flames are playing their prospects?
2nd period
The Flames opened up the scoring by winning a board battle (again) and getting too much space in front (again) and the Kraken found themselves trailing (again).
The Kraken seem to have lost their minds a little getting caught up in physical confrontations. This started by a clean, hard hit on newly-acquired Kraken Mackie Samoskevich, which prompted a reaction.
This put Kaapo Kakko in the penalty box, and then less than a minute later all hell broke loose with a foofaraw that put three Kraken in the penalty box to join Kakko.
But wait! There’s more! Ville Ottavainen loses his mind and sucker punches a Calgary player, and then even more penalties handed out. Ottavainen and Curtis Douglas get game misconducts and are removed from the game.
The Kraken finished out a ridiculous period by a Brandon Montour goal which was subsequently wiped off the board by a successful Calgary offside challenge.
3rd period
Brandon Montour opened the period with a beautiful shot to pull the team within one and the Kraken were not offside on this one, so Montour’s goal stood.
It was Ryker Evans who jumps into the play as a defenseman using his speed and activates going towards the net and tied it.
Overtime and shootout
Overtime was eventful with chances for both teams, especially when Calgary thought they might have scored driving the net but it was ruled goaltender interference (correctly).
The game went to a shootout with Beniers and Catton scoring, and Grubauer stopped 2 of 3 shootout attempts and thus the Kraken have escaped a very weird game against an AHL roster with a 4-3 win.
The Kraken play Calgary again on October 1st, the first game of the regular season. But hey, at least it will be against a largely completely different roster!