While the vast majority of calendar year 2024 for the Seattle Kraken is best forgotten, oh man were the beginning and ending stupendous.
Seattle rang in 2024 with a Winter Classic shutout over Vegas at T-Mobile Park. Fast-forward to the final road game of December Saturday in Vancouver, the site of the Kraken’s miraculous rally from down three with five minutes left to pull out a 5-4 overtime thriller.
But pro sports is a what have you done for me lately? business. So the only way to keep the glow from the epic comeback bright would be an equally strong effort against Utah HC Monday at Climate Pledge Arena.
Led by Jaden Schwartz’s tie-breaking goal in the 3rd period and two assists – he had a second goal reversed on a coach’s challenge – the Kraken kept the good times rolling with a 5-2 victory. This is the second consecutive dynamic performance for Schwartz, who scored two late goals in Saturday’s comeback victory. New Kraken Kaapo Kakko contributed two 3rd period assists, including one on Matty Beniers’ second goal in two games.
1st Period
Brandon Tanev and Ian Cole held an unscheduled high-speed crash at the chest of Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka. He was knocked into his own net and shaken up, but shook it off. Coincidentally, or not, Michael Kesselring delivered a hard check on Yanni Gourde moments later, and the two shared some shoves and less than kind words.
When Kesselring was on the receiving end of a rough Tanev hit, the referee deemed it boarding. 2022 3rd overall draft choice Logan Cooley connected on the power play, his 9th, to give HC the lead at 8:41.
Kaapo Kakko, playing his first home game since a Dec. 18 trade to Seattle, made himself a nuisance in the best possible way on the first Kraken power play. He had a shot on goal, screened Vejmelka, and retrieved pucks.
Jaden Schwartz, who’s been feasting lately on sharp-angle goals, appeared to get the Kraken even on their second power play at 16:26. From below the right wing circle, he whipped a backhand past a surprised Vejmelka. However, a Utah coach’s challenge for offside determined that Schwartz had entered the zone early, erasing the score.
After the puck went into the net, truculence. Wrestling, punching and shoving landed two players from each team in the box with matching minors.
If the renewed trade speculation circulating around Gourde has any validity, he increased his value at 18:06. His 20-foot wrister ripped the cords, almost ripping through them. A pinpoint Ryker Evans cross-ice pass made Yanni’s 6th goal possible.
Before the cheers had faded, Andre Burakovsky ramped them up again with as pretty a deflection as you’ll see. With his back to the net, Burakovsky ramped a Schwartz shot off the shaft of his stick for his 3rd of the season at 18:57. Asked at intermission about his goal, Andre said, “Honestly, I don’t know.”
A cat-quick pad save by Grubauer on Jack McBain allowed the Kraken to take a lead to the dressing room. 1st period shots favored Seattle, 16-5.
2nd Period
Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
During its tortured existence, what is now Utah HC has played in two leagues, in two countries, in three cities, and twice been referred to as an expansion team when they weren’t. At birth in 1972 they were the WHA Winnipeg Jets. The Jets joined the NHL in a 1979 “expansion,” then moved to Phoenix in 1996. The NHL has, for reasons, deemed this summer’s move to Salt Lake City again as an “expansion.” Now back to the game…
The Kraken “4th” line of Gourde, Tanev and Tye Kartye continue to make life miserable for defenders trying to clear the zone. And Yanni does it on defense, too, guarding the slot and sweeping away a crossing pass which would have set up Kesselring for a likely goal.
More unscheduled collisions: teammates Burakovsky and Chandler Stephenson collide behind the Utah net. A couple of minutes later and 200 feet away, Nick Bjugstad and Kraken defender Josh Mahura get tangled up at Grubauer’s crease. Bjugstad tumbles on top of the netminder, who loses his helmet. While play continues at center ice, Grubauer calmly reapplies his headgear.
A series of unfortunate events Lemony Snicket would be proud of conspire to erase the Kraken lead. Utah’s Kevin Stenlund appears to hold Gourde’s stick in the HC zone. When a call isn’t forthcoming, the Kraken look distracted. Meanwhile, Grubauer leaves what hockey pundits call a “juicy rebound” on Michael Carcone’s shot. The net is wide open for Alexander Kerfoot’s equalizer at 19:01.
Utah has its own period of lopsided shot advantage, 17-7.
3rd Period
Heart-stoppers each way in the opening minute: Vince Dunn sweeps the puck out of the crease behind Grubauer, then Gourde gets sprung on a breakaway. Vejmelka denies not only his initial shot, but the rebound as well.
Schwartz is next up in the Kraken breakaway-fest, and he doesn’t miss. His 12th, and third in two games, set up by Kakko, gives Seattle a 3-2 lead at 7:22.
Less than four minutes later, Matty Beniers gets his turn for a solo dash in the Utah end. He doesn’t get a clean shot off initially, but follows the puck into the corner. Call Matty Pinball Wizard, because from a seemingly impossible angle, he flings the puck off the beleaguered Vejmelka and juuuuust over the goal line.
Jared McCann adds the empty-netter with 1:48 left to seal the 5-2 victory.
Up Next
If the Kraken don’t get enough fireworks at the Space Needle on New Year’s Eve, they can expect more fireworks in their first contest of 2025. That’s because the revenge-minded opponent on Jan. 2 at CPA will be those same Vancouver Canucks who surrendered that three goal lead to Seattle on Saturday. The homestand will conclude with games against Edmonton on Jan. 4 and New Jersey on Jan. 6.