Kraken vs. Red Wings RECAP: McCann Scores Twice, Seattle “A Little Pissed Off” About 4-3 OT Loss

Roll the Highlight Reel!

Game Notes

• Exercising good health throughout the lineup for the first time since the “week before training camp” according to head coach Dave Hakstol, Seattle hit the ground running. A dogged pursuit of loose pucks helped Seattle reap scoring chances early and often– seven of the first eight shots were taken by the home team, and rebounds were frequent, accumulating for control over 80.6% of the total shot quality in the first period.
• Domination in underlying stats didn’t translate so smoothly. Detroit’s Moritz Seider opened the scoring with a bomb from the blueline made dangerous by a distracted, out-of-position Seattle defense, stuck in the middle of regrouping after a chance from Alex DeBrincat whizzed through the paint.
• Jared McCann, reigning leading goal scorer set to top the Kraken leader board again by season’s end, scored twice. A power play snipe heard around the world tied things up at one, and after Lucas Raymond helped Detroit retake the lead, McCann did it again, scrounging for a rebound net-front.
• Seattle’s only other goal came in the third period courtesy of Jaden Schwartz, who noted post-game he felt his team “lapse” in the middle frame. Slumping effort and a lack of timely finishing hurt the Kraken, ultimately leading to their 16th overtime game of the season.
• Alex Lyon, saving 1.11 goals above expected, certainly didn’t make scoring any easier, but in comparing the net-front action Seattle whipped up with what they could muster on the scoreboard it’s clear they lacked a follow-through. Despite generating enough opportunities to score over four goals they were denied the game-winner. Notably, Seattle’s PDO dipped to 92.3.
• Former Kraken Daniel Sprong didn’t score in overtime– that task was left to Ben Chiarot, who capitalized on disinterested opposing defense from Vince Dunn and Adam Larsson to secure his team’s win– but he did have his moment in the sun in his return to his old barn. Late in the second period Sprong sent a rocket of a shot past Joey Daccord, his 15th goal of the season. Surprisingly, the celly was tame. Looks like there’s no bad blood between Sprong and Seattle.
• By no means was this a disappointing effort from the Kraken, who demonstrated a fighting spirit after so many games this season have left onlookers questioning it. At the same time, the locker room was far from satisfied, but they’ll have no choice but to wipe the slate clean and move on.
• “You got two ways to go about it,” Hakstol said. “Be disappointed with the point that we lost and let that dwell, or be a little pissed off about losing the point, turn the page quick, and get ready for the next one here at home.”
• Hakstol praised the team’s general “push back” in response to Detroit. He did feel, however, they gave Detroit “one puck back too many,” which directly led to the goal against in overtime.

Let’s Give a Hand To…

• Will Borgen, who recorded two assists to match his career-best in points (20) set last season
• Eeli Tolvanen, because without his diving defensive play early in the first period, Seattle would’ve gone down a goal much earlier than they actually did
• André Burakovsky, for working hard enough at “creating separation” to garner a shout out from Hakstol

Three Stars of the Game

⭐️Ben Chiarot (GWG)

⭐️⭐️Jared McCann (2G)

⭐️⭐️⭐️Yanni Gourde (1A)

And here’s tonight’s heatmap, courtesy of NaturalStatTrick. Good on McCann for understanding the importance of a greasy net-front goal despite his sniper skills.