Ed Hill/North Jersey Media Group via USA TODAY NET.
“I wish that I had a lot more time for sports. You people in sports have done a great job in giving the Negro equal rights and you have achieved that without bloodshed.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in an interview after the 1963 March on Washington.
From the civil rights legend’s speech that day: “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: that all men are created equal.”
Before the season, the Seattle Kraken and Pittsburgh Penguins were both penciled in to be an easy two points for NHL opponents. That hasn’t been the case, with both teams hovering at or above the playoff cut line. So who would make their point(s) in an MLK day matinee at Climate Pledge Arena?
Rather than lean on their trio of hockey royalty, the Penguins instead benefited from offensive contributions up and down their lineup to beat the Kraken, 6-3.
The back-breaker was Connor Dewar’s shorthanded tally in the 1st period, Seattle’s third consecutive game giving up a shortie. Dewar added an empty-netter.
Pittsburgh also took advantage of a rare subpar performance from Joey Daccord, who allowed five goals on 32 shots.
The Kraken rallied from a 2-0 hole on goals from Ben Meyers and Ryan Winterton. A 3rd period power play score from Eeli Tolvanen drew them back within a goal, but no further. Seattle’s season-long roller coaster up and down the standings has taken another downward plunge. The Kraken have lost six of the last seven games (1-4-2)
1st Period
A stretch pass sends Tolvanen in on a breakaway. But Stuart Skinner – acquired from Edmonton in a December goalie swap for Tristan Jarry – makes the stop.
A Ryan Lindgren minor means the Kraken must play shorthanded against three future Hall-of-Famers – Sidney Crosby (playing his 1,400th NHL game), Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang – on the ice at the same time. Daccord’s fine saves on Justin Brazeau and Egor Chinakhov (who?) help kill the penalty.
But the reprieve lasts all of 15 seconds. Another name you likely won’t recognize, Pens defenseman Parker Wotherspoon, breaks the visitors on top at 5:44.
Seattle’s first chance on the man advantage results in another goal – for Pittsburgh. Fourth-line wing Connor Dewar (who?) converts a shorthanded breakaway, finding room over Daccord’s glove hand at 7:50.
Ben Meyers converts a Jaden Schwartz pass from the corner to get the Kraken on the board. In the right circle, Meyers fires over Skinner’s blocker at 16:12. It’s his 5th of the season, and perfectly acceptable if Penguins fans ask, “Who?”
2nd Period
Famous people are just like us. Take 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai.
Just like us, Malala attended Sunday’s Seattle Torrent PWHL game at Climate Pledge Arena. Again today, just like us, Malala is taking in the Kraken MLK day game. Sitting to her left is Kraken owner Samantha Holloway.
Daccord keeps Seattle close with a pair of outstanding bang-bang saves. The puck hops over Brandon Montour’s stick at the left point, setting up a Pittsburgh 2-on-1. Daccord stops Tommy Novak’s drive, and Malkin’s rebound.
Kraken defenseman Ryan Lindgren, while definitely a known name, rarely lights the lamp. Today he does, aided by more 4th line magic. Meyers creates havoc around the crease, freeing up another Ryan, Winteron, to feed Lindgren for his 2nd goal of the season. At 13:55, it’s 2-2.
The tie lasts 50 seconds. Pittsburgh d-man Brett Kulak (¿Quién?) sends a harmless looking wrist shot from the blueline. Traffic in front prevents Daccord from tracking the puck, which whistles past him and in the net for a 3-2 lead. It’s Kulak’s first goal of the season.
Lindgren, apparently determined to dominate the scoresheet, takes a second minor. And for the second time, Seattle stymies the NHL’s 2nd-ranked power play. Stats wizard and DJLR colleague Zaiem Beg points out the pair of kills moves Seattle from worst in the league to 31st in penalty killing.
Pitt takes a one-goal lead and 22-14 shots lead into the 2nd intermission.
3rd Period
If you don’t know the name Justin Brazeau – he wasn’t drafted, after all – the Kraken know him now. The 6-foot-6 winger found space between the post and Daccord’s body for his 14th goal, building the Pittsburgh lead to 4-2 at 2:21.
Noel Acciari’s in-close backhand rang the left post, keeping the Pens from building a three-goal lead.
The third Kraken power play proves the charm. Tolvanen’s 10th, a one-timer cannon set up by Vince Dunn’s tape-to-tape pass, brings Seattle within 4-3 at 7:47.
The Kraken’s now #31 penalty kill disposes of a third straight minor to give themselves a chance in the final minutes. But a layup 5th Penguins goal by Rickard Rakell, which hopped tantalizingly up in the air and just out of reach of Daccord’s glove with 3:12 left sealed the outcome. Pittsburgh added an empty-netter.
Up Next
Seattle plays the second of a six-game homestand on Wednesday, hosting the New York Islanders. Note the earlier start time of 6:30 pm Pacific, to accommodate the national TNT broadcast.