Kraken win on `Fleury’ of goals

At a time when professional sports teams finally admit that people bet on sporting events, the odds on Seattle defenseman Haydn Fleury scoring the first two straight goals in last night’s 4-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild were probably a million-to-one.

Fleury, who has only dressed in five of the Kraken’s nine games this season, was the surprise star of last night’s contest along with the not surprising Philipp Grubauer who had 30 saves, 15 in the third period. Playing before their third consecutive sellout crowd at Climate Pledge Arena the Kraken (3-4-1) won their second consecutive game for the first time in the team’s brief history. Minnesota drops to 5-2.

Fleury was one of a half dozen Kraken expansion picks who attended the draft-day ceremony last summer at Gasworks Park. He told the crowd his mom was moved to tears when the Kraken selected both Haydn and his younger brother Cole (currently playing for the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL). “I think the last time we were on the same team; I was five and he was three.”

Mom must have been ecstatic last night, starting at 12:23 of the first period when Fleury tied the game at 1-1. Fleury was back covering the point as his defense partner Jamie Oleksiak had joined the offense, but Jaden Schwartz dropped a pass to the wide-open Fleury who blistered a slap shot home from the blue line.

When asked about the Kraken defense being involved in the offense Fleury said, “I think it’s a key part of our team. I think all the defensemen from our team have the capabilities to help contribute and I really think if we’re going to be a successful team, I think we have to do that.”

Fleury’s second goal was one for the highlight reels. Coming down the left side, Fleury skated around a sprawling Minnesota defenseman and flicked a wrist shot that was kicked out by Wild goalkeeper Cam Talbot. But the rebound came right back to Fleury who circled behind the net and fired into the open corner

“I just faked it, walked around them, thought I had a hole short side and missed it, but I got my rebound and just wrapped it in,” Fleury said. “That one felt pretty cool.”

The Kraken added two empty-net goals in the final minute of the game when Minnesota coach Dean Evason pulled Talbot for another attacker. Brandon Tanev scored his team-high seventh goal at 19:00 and then captain Mark Giordano another defenseman – tallied with eight seconds left in the game. Giordano’s goal was still noteworthy as he was deep in his own zone when he shot the puck down ice, it ricocheted like a pinball off the sideboards and into the net.

While the Kraken have blown a few late-game leads, last night’s contest was the poler opposite as Minnesota controlled the first period. The Wild opened the scoring when  Kirill Kaprizov, the 2020-21 Calder Trophy winner (top rookie in the league) hit teammate Ryan Hartman cutting in front of the net at 6:27.

The Wild thought they had another goal 14 seconds later when the puck went off Marcus Foligno into the net. But the officials waved it off immediately, ruling that Foligno had kicked the puck in. Kraken fans were reminded of opening night in Las Vegas when the Golden Knights scored on a similar play and the refs allowed the goal to stand.

Fleury added his first goal at 13:23 and then the Kraken owned the second period, outshooting their guests, 17-5. Nevertheless, Grubauer made a big stop on Kaprizov’s breakaway in the closing seconds of the second period.

“We did a good job in the second period,” Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said. “We weren’t able to extend the lead but overall, that’s a good 20 minutes of hockey for us, based off a lot of hard work by our guys. We did it against a very good team. That’s a hard-nosed team, that’s a competitive team. And obviously, they showed that with some of their pushback in the third period.”

In the third period, the team the Kraken expected to play finally showed up. The Wild, who had won five out of six to start the season, had 15 shots in the final 20 minutes.

Joel Ericksson-Ek should have tied the game for Minnesota at 9:28 with the Wild on their second power play of the game. Camped in front of an open net, Ericksson-Ek hit the post, showing once again why the goalposts are sometimes called “a goalie’s best friend.”

The Kraken finish their first homestand of the season on Halloween night when they host the New York Rangers often referred to as one of the ~original six teams’ along with the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, and Detroit Red Wings. The game time for the Sunday puck drop is 6:00.

GAME NOTES

• The Kraken have tried to take an active role in honoring the city’s sports history. Seattle CEO Tod Leiweke took part in a ceremony yesterday honoring former Seattle Sonics’ great Lenny Wilkens on his 84^th birthday. The street formerly known as Thomas Street has changed to Lenny Wilkens Way to honor the Seattle basketball star who was known for his accomplishments on the court and off. Wilkens, a local sports hero who played and coached for the Seattle SuperSonics, also has given a lot to the community. Thomas Street runs off 1^st Ave. near the Climate Pledge Arena. Wilkens and Brandon Tanev, the Kraken’s leading scorer, were both star athletes at Providence College as was Kraken scout Cammi Granato.
• Although NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says that there are only four unvaccinated players in the league, COVID still rears its ugly head on occasion. The Wild were without their leading scorer last night, Matts Zuccarello along with Rem Pitlick, were placed in COVID protocol before last night’s game. In their absence, forward Connor Dewar and defenseman Jon Lizotte made their NHL debuts. Dewar, played junior hockey for the Everett Silvertips. 
• A longtime hockey tradition is announcing the `three stars’ at the end of a game. Players will make a brief return to the ice and sometimes players from the home team might flip a puck or give a stick to nearby fans before they leave. The Kraken have added a new Seattle wrinkle this year. For the second consecutive game star players – Fleury and Grubauer in this case – threw a sockeye salmon into the crowd. Obviously, a takeoff on the fish throwing at Pike Market Place. However, in this case the salmon are rubber (and autographed) so no actual salmon were hurt.

GAME SUMMARY

1^ST Period

M – Ryan Hartman (Kirill Kaprizov, Marcus Foligno) 6:27.

S – Haydn Fleury (Joonas Donskoi, Jaden Schwartz) 13:23.

2^nd Period

S – Fleury (Ryan Donato) 7:33.

3^rd Period

S – Brandon Tanev (Yanni Gourde) empty net, 19:00.

S – Mark Giordano (Riley Sheahan) empty net, 19:52.

Goals/Saves – Minnesota: Cam Talbot 2-34. Seattle: Philipp Grubauer 1-30.

Penalties – Minnesota 4-8, Seattle 2-4.

Referees – Steve Kozari, Brandon Schrader. Linesmen – Brandon Gawryletz, Bevan Mills.

Attendance – 17, 151