Above Photo: Kraken Eeli Tolvanen celebrates his 1st period goal.
What do a combined $94 million worth of Seattle Kraken free agents look like? Fans at Climate Pledge Arena found out, as center Chandler Stephenson and defenseman Brandon Montour made their Kraken preseason debuts Friday against the Vancouver Canucks.
Joining the veteran additions for game three of the preseason were two forward lines of prospect survivors (so far) from training camp, including intriguing forwards Jani “Hello” Nyman (pronounced “Newman”) and Lleyton “Long and Winding” Roed.
Goals by Eeli Tolvanen, Montour, and Ryan Winterton, and 19 saves from Joey Daccord who went the distance, led Seattle to its first 2024-25 victory, 3-1. Something else to feel good about: in their last two games, both against Vancouver, the Kraken have allowed a grand total of one 5-on-5 goal.
1st Period
Familiar Kraken names combined to stake the home team to a 1-0 lead at 4:02. Tolvanen, he of the new two year contract extension, made like a lumberjack, chopping down at Adam Larsson’s shot. The redirection beat highly-touted Vancouver goalie Kevin Lankinen, who had just arrived from Finland (and an unhappy two seasons in the Nashville Predators system).
The Kraken, who lost 3-1 to these same Canucks in Vancouver three nights ago, have their first lead of the not-season. Soon after, Lankinen was called on make a pair of fine stops on wheeling-and-dealing Roed, then Ryan Winterton’s rebound. Later, Jordan Eberle, who picked up the second assist on Tolvanen’s tally, is stopped on a semi-breakway, and prospect Brandon Biro can’t stuff home the follow.
Seattle didn’t score on its first power play, but Montour looked sharp as PP quarterback. Speaking of sharp, Montour delights the crowd with his first goal wearing the light blue “S.” Standing as far away from the goal as one can and still be onside – at the extreme right point – Montour lofts a shot which deflects high off Vancouver’s unsuspecting Derek Forbort and past Lankinen. If this is an example of the good fortune Montour packed with him from south Florida, it could be a fun season.
Seattle outshoots Vancouver in the period 11-4, and outscored them 2-0. It’s the first time in three games the Kraken have tallied more than one goal, and they did it in one period.
2nd Period
Joey Daccord in the Kraken goal played Maytag repairman in the 1st period – lonely. Only four shots against & little Canucks zone time, even with a power play.
Youth will be served. Roed, who was flying all shift, steals the puck at center ice. Driving into the zone, he centers off Ryan Winterton’s skate at the top of the crease. Winterton finds the lose puck and chips it home for a 3-0 Kraken lead at 3:45. Take it away, Allyson:
Out as a defense pairing for a second successful Kraken penalty kill, 6-3, 209 Larsson and 6-7, 257 Jamie Oleksiak. Honestly, if I’m the player on the opposition assigned to stand in front, I might ask the coach to decline the penalty.
If you’re unfamiliar with Nyman, the 2022 Kraken draft pick with the booming shot, he’s 6-2, 212, and knows how to play the body.
Daccord – ‘member him? – makes his best save with a cat-quick kickout of a Pius Suter deflection. On the same shift, the goalie shrugs away a Brock Boeser blast. Nonetheless, a Tyler Myers wraparound at 16:18 breaks Joey’s shutout and brings the visitors within 3-1.
When Daccord misplays the puck from behind his net, Mitchell Stephens’ alert block saves a second Canucks goal. Shots are 9-8 Vancouver in the 2nd period, but Seattle maintains a two goal lead after 40. Stephens, BTW, is a 2015 Tampa Bay draft pick who has had cups of coffee with the Lightning, Red Wings and Canadiens.
3rd Period
To the rear of Daccord’s net, Vancouver’s Sammy Blais slams Montour to the ice. They continue to tangle for a good 10 seconds while play continues. When Van finally touches the puck, Seattle goes on the power play.
Again, no goal results, but not for a lack of dangerous chances. The last of these is Stephenson’s pretty feed from the near boards which Tolvanen expertly deflects on goal.
Tolvanen gets another grade-A chance with five minutes left off an Eberle setup, but hits the crossbar. Eberle skates off with a wry smile.
Myers on Meyers crime: Vancouver’s Myers, already disliked by Kraken Nation for prior shenanigans against their heroes, takes a cross-checking penalty against Seattle’s Ben Meyers at 16:18. Though the home team doesn’t add to its lead, two late-game minutes are salted away.
Jamie Oleksiak, from behind his own goal line, misses the vacated Canucks net by millimeters. Jaden Schwartz also misses an empty-netter.
The Kraken effort is complete, satisfying, and victorious, 3-1.
Up Next
It’s a busy Saturday for the Kraken. A morning skate at KCI, flight to Edmonton for a tilt with the Oilers, then another flight into Calgary. Seattle’s rematch with the Flames comes Monday evening.