Future Hall-of-Famer Patrick Kane picked a top corner with 2:29 left, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a hard-fought 4-3 victory over the Seattle Kraken Saturday at Climate Pledge Arena. It was Kane’s 497th goal in an NHL career that began with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2007.
Rangy 6-foot-3 Kraken defenseman Adam Larsson became “Long-Range Larsson,” as two of his blue line bombs became Kraken scores. Larsson’s middle-period goal and assist were part of a big offensive night for Seattle defensemen. Brandon Montour also contributed a goal, and Vince Dunn recorded his 300th NHL point. Chandler Stephenson had the other Kraken tally.
But it wasn’t enough, as Seattle’s winless streak grows to five games (0-4-1).
1st Period
Detroit comes in with one victory in its last six. Seattle is riding an 0-3-1 streak. So each team is looking to get well by continuing the other’s misery. Veteran defenseman Jamie Oleksiak is a healthy scratch, the designated scapegoat from Thursday’s debacle in Edmonton.
Freddy Gaudreau is cross-checked from behind into the boards by Axel Sandin-Pellikka, clearly worthy of a boarding call that wasn’t called. Berkly Catton is called for holding not long after, putting the Kraken’s 32nd-ranked (that’s last, folks) penalty kill to work.
The post helps those who help themselves. After Moritz Seider rings iron past Kraken goalie Joey Daccord, he makes two fine saves in short order on Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin.
But apparently, the Wings have been watching video of how Edmonton’s power play destroyed Seattle with cross-ice passes. Emmitt Finnie takes one and fires from the right circle before Daccord can slide side-to-side. 1-0 Detroit at 7:06. The Kraken have now allowed goals on seven of their last eight shorthanded situations (and the eighth wasn’t even a full two minutes).
Reunited linemates Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle both play key roles in Brandon Montour’s tying goal at 16:16. Staying calm despite Raymond’s dogged forecheck, Beniers finds Eberle up ice. The captain leaves a drop pass for Montour, while dragging checker Ben Chiarot with him. Eberle and Chiarot create a screen veteran Detroit goalie John Gibson can’t see through as Montour snaps the puck past him.
Montour made a third crowd-pleasing play in the dying seconds of the period, diving at the blue line to keep the puck in the Wings zone. Shots in the period are 8-6 Seattle.
2nd Period
Detroit retakes the lead at 5:10, but play continues for a bit before the situation room in Toronto confirms it.
KHN Screengrab
From below the goal line. Andrew Copp banks the puck off Daccord. It trickles over the line, but Kraken defenseman Ryan Lindgren so stealthily sweeps it back in play, the officials aren’t sure. In fact, one of the refs look back at Daccord with two palms up. Joey responds with two palms up of his own. At the next stoppage, the goal is confirmed.
Time for the goalies to shine. First, Detroit’s Gibson makes a pair of sparkling saves off the sticks of Eberle and Lindgren. Then Seattle’s Daccord flashes out his glove to rob Alex DeBrincat.
Larsson ties the game 2-2 at 6:44. Vince Dunn’s assist is his 300th NHL point.
When the Big Cat fires from center point, Chandler Stephenson deflects it in for a 3-2 Seattle lead at 12:44.
Hopes that the Kraken could take a lead into intermission evaporated when James van Riemsdyk converted a Detroit 2-on-1 to tie the game once more at 19:32. Defenseman Ryker Evans’ decision to pinch in the offensive zone comes back to bite his team. Shots in a wide-open period were 14-12 Seattle, and 22-18 Kraken through 40.
Official Escapades
Here’s something you don’t hear at the arena every night. Referee Kyle Rehman is preparing to announce that Dunn won’t receive a penalty, because it was the puck, and not Dunn’s stick, that struck a Red Wings player. But the off-ice officials, or the off-ice entertainment, isn’t ready quick enough for Rehman’s liking.
Referee partner Jake Brenk has a tough 2nd period shift, slipping in the right circle, twice. Brenk pops right back up both times, no worse for wear except for having to tuck his shirt back in his pants while play continues.
3rd Period
Taylor Codomo Photo
Shane Wright makes like a pickpocket, skates down ice with his prize, and fires a shot off the crossbar that Gibson might have gotten a piece of. Another grade-A chance belonged to Eeli Tolvanen, who lasered his shot just wide from point-blank range.
In the first 16 minutes, Detroit held a 5-1 edge on official SOGs. Both teams have tightened up, perhaps wanting to ensure that first overtime point.
Then, with less than three minutes to play, a three-time Stanley Cup champion did what three-time Stanley Cup champions do.
Up Next
In the middle contest of a three-game homestand, the Kraken will try (for the fifth time) to gain their first victory in those sort-of glow-in-the-dark 3rd jerseys. The Minnesota Wild provide the opposition.