Kraken vs. Knights RECAP: Seattle Blows Two-Goal Lead, Fumbles Overtime Chances for Devastating 5-4 Loss

Roll the Highlight Reel!

Game Notes

• Reminiscent of the Winter Classic– the last meeting between these two– Tuesday’s game was all about the forecheck. Unlike the Winter Classic, this one ended in devastating fashion.
• Albeit it took upwards of fifteen minutes for it to roar to life, Seattle’s forecheck was the difference maker in the first two periods of the game. Vegas took the first four shots of the game in four minutes, and the home team notched their first two sporadically and from surprising places: Brandon Tanev and Kailer Yamamoto (on the power play).
• Notably the Kraken had spent extensive time working on man-advantage puck movement at morning skate the day of, with both units perfecting one-touch passes to transport the puck with improved urgency, direction, purpose. Neither of their two power plays converted, but effects of this focus were evident. Units leveraged Eeli Tolvanen’s sniper shot by sending him passes fast and accurate enough to allow for shooting without hesitation. Speed makes for upgraded scoring opportunities, and Tolvanen ended up creating two of the most dangerous chances of the period. Overall, it was easier for units to access the inside as well.
• Seattle didn’t receive another power play the rest of the game, finding momentum instead through waves of pressure and the aforementioned forecheck. Vegas was forced into turnovers and extended defensive zone shifts, giving Seattle a 71.64% and 54.54% control over shot quality in the first and second periods, respectively, and the pressure allowed André Burakovsky to score his third game of the season. Committed contribution from defensemen and forwards along the boards in the offensive zone helped Seattle maintain possession long enough for he and Jared McCann to team up on the scoring sequence.
• Twenty-eight total shots (15-13 VGK) and three goals (Burakovsky, Jonathan Marchessault, and Pavel Dorofeyev) were recorded in the second period, but the scoring didn’t kick into high gear until the third period. As if the floodgates keeping shots unsuccessful in the second had opened, Seattle burst out of second intermission for two goals (Matty Beniers and Brandon Tanev) in the opening 5:30, then tacked another one on from Oliver Bjorkstrand 11 minutes in for a 4-2 lead.
• Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy said his team’s response to this push– William Karlsson’s goal, scored 53 seconds after Bjorkstrand’s– gave them “life.” He was right.

• Momentum shifted entirely in Vegas’ favor, pushing Seattle back “on their heels” according to Pierre-Édouard Bellemare and giving them control over a meager 36.82% of the total shot quality in the final period. An empty-net skater gave Vegas the extra juice they needed to capitalize on this pressure late, and Marchessault notched his second of the night, tying the game with about 17 seconds to go. Two-goal lead officially blown.
• Seattle had several chances to seize a win in their 18th overtime of the season, but just couldn’t get it done. Burakovsky and Larsson teamed up for a two-on-one against Vegas, failed to even record a shot after the pass between them missed, and when play swung the other direction it was Jack Eichel who called game, scoring on a breakaway. There’s some controversy as to whether a missed holding call on Karlsson, who held up Bjorkstrand’s stick for a moment to prevent him from properly back checking Eichel.
• This was easily the most frustrated the Kraken had ever looked after a loss. Bjorkstrand threw a stick, Eberle hid his head in his arms on the bench. Following the game-tying goal, Philipp Grubauer laid sprawled out on the ice.

Let’s Give a Hand To…

• The fourth line, (Bellemare, Tanev, and Yamamoto), for all notching a point. Scoring has been rare from this trio.
• Philipp Grubauer, for playing better than the stats (29/34, .853 SV%) made his performance seem, and giving the start his all despite being hung out to dry by his defensemen.
• Jordan Eberle, of course, for playing in his 1000 career NHL game. Prior to puck drop on Thursday, the Kraken will hold a ceremony in honor of his achievement.

Three Stars of the Game

⭐️Jack Eichel (GWG, 2A)

⭐️⭐️Jonathan Marchessault (2G)

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jordan Eberle (1000 games played)

And here’s tonight’s heat map, courtesy of NaturalStatTrick. All four goals were scored within the home plate– the magic of getting to the high danger areas!