The Pacific Northwest belongs to the Kraken this year.
Drink it in, man.
But First, the Highlights!
Game Notes
- Your TOI Leader tonight was Adam Larsson, who played 25:32 tonight.
- This was as tight a game you’re ever going to get for about 35 minutes; Vancouver and Seattle traded the lead and kept each other honest at even strength for a period and a half, and then Justin Schultz found a shooting lane from the point, and it seems to have broken the camel’s back. From that point on, the Kraken absolutely nailed the Canucks to the wall; they forechecked better, they kept the Canucks to the outside, they limited chances, and they forced Demko to make great save after great save, and in the end broke them down systematically. That’s the Kraken I know and love. The one we’ve been denied quite a bit. Hopefully this version sticks around!
- I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a fight be so lopsided this season than the one Brandon Tanev got into with Conor Garland after McCann’s goal. He just mollywhopped that kid. Fed him nothing but rights for a good 10+ seconds. Turbo had an alright game but goddamn, he looked like he was planning on taking whatever remained of Garland’s head at the end of the bout as a trophy. I don’t think Garland got a single swing in until right at the end when he was armbar’d and brought to the ice. It wasn’t just a mismatch, it was executed flawlessly; I’m pretty sure he hit him 12 times over 8 seconds, which is good for 1-and-a-half punches a second.
- The Power play went 1-for-3, but they got some excellent chances the entire time they were on the man-advantage. So long as they keep that up, we should start to see dividends be paid as they start to face lesser competition…eventually.
- If there’s any negative I could give? It’s that the Kraken could’ve probably made it more lopsided; no team should have this much trouble deciding to shoot on a 2-on-1.
- I know people are up and down on Grubauer but at this point I think there’s just some kind of ambient field around him where his own players seem to find bizarre ways to give up goals because the first two were off of some insane bounces that you’re never gonna get by shooting normally. The Canucks truly make their own luck sometimes. Either way, finished the night with a pretty reasonable .905 SV% on 21 shots; a majority of the most dangerous ones being seen during the final 4 minutes, so good on ya, Grubert!
- Okay one last gripe: The number of players you’re allowed to have on the ice during normal circumstances of play is 5 plus a goalie…if you are anyone other than the Vancouver Canucks, who got to play with Too Many Men at least twice in the third period and it simply was not called. The refs in general had a bizarre night where they either called everything or nothing all at once.
- Playoff updates! This was an important win, especially considering Calgary got their W over Boston, St. Louis absolutely dump-trucked the Islanders yesterday, and Nashville as I’m writing this is wrapping up a tight game against a flagging LA. They’re now a mere 3 points out to tie, or two wins away from grabbing the spot; assuming St. Louis, Calgary, and Nashville drop at bare minimum one game over the weekend. Every game matters this time of year.
Let’s Give A Hand To…
- Jordan Eberle! Getting your own rebound is tough. Scoring on it is even tougher, and he made it look easy. That’s also a casual 3 point night for the alternate captain, no big deal.
- Vince Dunn! For being the straw that stirs the drink once again. He started the scoring and while he only picked up that opening goal as a point, he was a surefire part of keeping the puck deep inside Vancouver territory. Great night for him.
- Brandon Tanev! For absolutely whuppin’ Conor Garland in such an efficient way. Allyson’s going to have a piece on that fight upcoming; keep an eye out for that.
- Justin Schultz! With a solid 2-point night! If you like him, you’re obviously happy he’s getting on his stride. If you want him traded? This gasses him up! If you’re Justin Schultz? you had a great game and everyone’s happy!
- Brian Dumoulin! For one hell of a 600th game.
- Jared freakin’ McCann! FOUR POINT NIGHT on a night that looked sure to have ended in disaster after taking a hell of a beating near the benches. Absolutely incredible night for McCann, he looked like a superstar out there.
The NaturalStatTrick.com Charts!
The Kraken get a day off for rest and recuperation, then host the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night! That game drops the puck at 7pm PT.
We will see you there! Thank you for reading, and as always
Keep Calm, and Post Zoidberg When We Win
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