Nikke Kokko made 26 saves on 27 attempts in his first NHL start with the top three Kraken goalies Joey Daccord, Philipp Grubauer, and Matt Murray unavailable. Kokko and Victor Östman were emergency callups from their AHL affiliate with the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
After a scoreless first period, the Kraken ceded the first goal of the game when Calgary’s Hunter Brzustewicz scored 1:11 in the second period, but that was the only thing the Flames could muster.
But the Kraken tied the game off the rush shortly after, led by Jared McCann and Kaapo Kakko, and Freddy Gaudreau’s response goal tied the game.
The goal of the game came off a Vince Dunn attempt to get the puck through traffic and though it missed Jaden Schwartz, it went right through to Chandler Stephenson who buried the puck for what was the eventual game-winning goal.
The Kraken got another one at the very end of the period, scoring with just 4.9 seconds remaining when Matty Beniers with a sweet little snipe from distance, and that was all the scoring the Kraken needed.
Jordan Eberle added an empty net goal.
Should the Kraken have won? They were mathematically eliminated before the game started and it would behoove the Kraken to lose for lottery odds. However, it is very predictable (and quite frankly admirable) for a team to play really well in front of a young goalie making his first start. And, as much as Seattle has struggled this season, the Flames are a worse team.
Seattle has one more home game this season, Monday against the Kings. Then they go on the road for a back-to-back against Vegas and Colorado on the 15th and 16th to finish out the season.