Sports are nothing if not unpredictable.
The Florida Panthers had a chance to go into the NHL record books last night if they could win their 12th consecutive home game to begin the season at Fla Live Arena. The Panthers (14-4-3) had tied the record of 11 straight – set by the 1963-64 Chicago Black Hawks – in their previous outing.
Florida’s chances looked good facing the expansion Seattle Kraken with the additional storyline of former Panther Chris Driedger manning the Kraken net. Driedger played well for Florida last season when he filled in for the injured Sergei Bobrovsky. Driedger went 14-6-3 in 21 starts.
However, things have been downhill since Driedger was one of several Kraken players introduced to Seattle fans on draft day. He missed most of the first month of the season with a knee injury and was sub-par in two starts. In fact, Driedger was pulled from a game against Colorado eight days ago after giving up four goals in 25 minutes.
Here’s where a Hollywood hack screenwriter would have Driedger making big save after big save, shutting down the Panthers and leading the Kraken to victory. To hackneyed and cliched for the screen, but that’s exactly what happened as Driedger stopped 32 out of 33 shots to lead Seattle to a 4-1 victory.
“I haven’t had a great start so this was one of my most gratifying wins,” said Driedger in a classic understatement after the game.
Along with Driedger’s first win in a Seattle uniform, Jordan Eberle led the offense with a milestone performance, two goals in his 800th NHL game.
While it’s hard to call a play in the first period a turning point, the save most alluded to in post-game discussions came in the game’s opening minutes. The Kraken have given up their share of breakaway goals this season, so Pacific Northwest fans watching on TV held their collective breaths when Jonathan Huberdeau, Florida’s leading scorer, went in on a breakaway. But Driedger held his ground, made Huberdeau make the first move, and batted the puck away. After that save, it looked like maybe Driedger was in for a good game.
“He went out and did his job,” said Kraken coach Dave Hakstol. “He made the save on the breakaway and it was a huge save. And he was really solid from there on out.”
“The first two, three games were not going my way,” said Driedger, a 6’4 27-year-old from Winnipeg. “I needed to get back in there and start feeling good. Get some confidence back.”
While Philipp Grubauer has started 14 of the Kraken’s 19 games, Driedger noted that goaltender coach Andrew Allen had circled last night’s game on the calendar two weeks ago as a contest that Driedger would probably start. “You never know for sure, but I figured there was a chance because this was our second game in two nights.”
Huberdeau’s scoring attempt came when the Panthers were shorthanded but Eberle would score on the same power play. On a two-on-one, Eberle took a pass from Joonas Donskoi (two assists) and wristed a one-timer into the net. The goal marked the Kraken’s seventh man-advantage goal in their last 21 attempts. Hard to believe that Seattle had 26 straight power plays where it didn’t score early in the season.
Florida tied the game when Patric Hornquist deflected Mackenzie Weeger’s drive from the point into the net. But the Kraken took the lead for good when Ryan Donato tipped home a shot by defenseman Jamie Oleksiak midway through the first period.
After a scoreless second period, the Kraken added an insurance goal six minutes into the third. Yanni Gourde stole an attempted clearing pass by the Florida defense, but Panther goalkeeper Spencer Knight made the save. Eberle was there to fire the rebound into the net.
Down two goals, Florida head coach Andrew Brunette pulled Knight with four minutes left in the game. That set up the most noteworthy empty-netter of the season for the Kraken. Oleksiak pounced on a lose puck behind his own net and fired the puck all the way down the ice into the vacant net. A shot estimated at just under 200 feet.
“I thought we played the right way,” said Eberle, with Friday’s loss to Tampa Bay in mind. “We played with a little more competitiveness, a little more urgency, and that has to be the standard every night. It’s pretty amazing to look at Florida’s record and to come in here and get two points.”
Despite his own two goals, Eberle gave Driedger much of the credit for the victory. “He was awesome and made some big saves. I’m sure it meant a lot to him. To have a goalie have that impact on the game, those are the kind of things that build team camaraderie too. You really pull for the guy.”
“It felt really good to get that one,” said Driedger. “Pretty happy with that performance by our group, too, that’s about as good as I’ve seen our group play,”
While admitting that beating the Panthers was special, Driedger said he has no animosity towards the team leaving him unprotected in the expansion draft. “It was good to see those guys. To be honest it was a challenge to keep my head in the game. It’s so familiar to be in this barn. I just needed to focus.”
The Kraken travel to Buffalo tomorrow for their second and final game with the Sabres this season. Seattle beat Buffalo, 5-2 on Eberle’s hat trick, at Climate Pledge Arena, Nov. 4.
GAME NOTES
* The scoreboard at Fla Arena posted a thank you to Driedger and Alex Wennberg for their performances with the Panthers last year. Wennberg, who was scoreless last night, had his best season with Florida a year ago, scoring 17 goals and adding 12 assists in the shortened season. Two other Kraken played briefly with the Panthers – Jared McCann and Riley Sheahan. The Kraken also boast four former Pittsburgh Penguins – McCann, Sheahan, Jamie Oleksiak and Brandon Tanev.
* Eberle noted that just about every game is a `special one’ for a member of the Kraken. Yanni Gourde received a standing ovation in his return to Tampa Bay on Friday night. Sheahan, after a brief spell with Charlotte in the AHL, and Will Borgen – making his Kraken debut – were inserted the lineup last night. Both played briefly with Buffalo, the Kraken’s next opponent. Eberle himself, spent seven seasons with the New York Islanders.
* The Kraken were missing Mark Giordano due to COVID protocols, and Calle Jarnkrok, out with an injury. Colin Blackwell was a healthy scratch. Hakstol was pleased with the play of Borgon in his first game. On his second shift, Borgon got into a tussle with Florida’s Ryan Lomberg and both received roughing minors.
* The Fla arena is located between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. The Panthers’ 20-year-old goalkeeper Spencer Knight had been a perfect 4-0 in the arena before suffering his first loss last night.
* Panther coach Andrew Brunette, who played over 1,000 games with six NHL teams is still listed as interim coach. Brunette took over the helm of the Panthers on Oct. 29 when former head coach Joel Quenneville resigned. That day Quenneville met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman as part of an investigation of Blackhawks’ video coach Brad Aldrich having sexually assaulted a player – Kyle Beach – when Quenneville coached the Hawks in 2010. According to a formal NHL statement, Bettman, the Panthers, and Quenneville mutually agreed that “it was no longer appropriate” for Quenneville to stay on. Bettman also announced that Quenneville will have to meet with him before he is allowed to work in the NHL again.
GAME SUMMARY
1st Period
S – Jordan Eberle (Joonas Donskoi, Vince Dunn) power play, 2:22.
F – Patrick Hornquist (Mackenzie Weeger, Joe Thornton) 6:59
S – Ryan Donato (Jamie Oleksiak, Donskoi) 10:46
2nd Period
No scoring.
3rd Period
S – Eberle (Yanni Gourde) 5:57
S – Jamie Oleksiak (Carson Soucy) empty net, 16:35.
Goals/Saves – Seattle: Chris Driedger 1-33. Florida: Spencer Knight 3-23.
Penalties – Seattle: 2-4. Florida 3-6.
Referees – T.J. Luxmore, Francois St. Laurent. Linesmen – Scott Cherrey, Jonny Murray.
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