As a first-year NHL expansion team the Seattle Kraken has ample opportunity to record plenty of `firsts.’ But the Kraken outdid themselves last night defeating the Buffalo Sabres, 7-4, the team’s highest-scoring game ever.
Some highlights – the Kraken scored their first two shorthanded goals in team history to open the scoring. Carson Soucy had the first after Yanni Gourde intercepted a puck in the Seattle defensive zone, and then Brandon Tanev scored on a great individual effort. The two “shortys” also marked the first time a team has tallied two shorthanded goals in the same period since the Sabres did it last March 21 against the Philadelphia Flyers.
A team high 12 players chalked up a goal or an assist in the game. Two players had two goals – Jared McCann and Mason Appleton. The latter, who missed 11 games with an injury, had his first two goals of the season. Will Borgen, who played 12 games with the Sabres last season had his first career point on a second-period assist. And the Kraken swept their first-ever series as they also beat the Sabres in their only other meeting, a 5-2 win, Nov. 4 at Climate Pledge Arena.
The Kraken have now won four out of five after losing six in a row, improving their overall record to 8-13-1. Buffalo falls to 8-11-3.
“You’re a little more excited and feel a little better about coming to the rink every day,” said Seattle coach Dave Hakstol about the team’s recent success. “There were four, five games where we had a more complete game though 60 minutes but we didn’t have the results. So, the big thing for me was that we stayed together as a team during those stretches when you’re playing darn good hockey and not being rewarded.”
The two short-handed goals set the tone for the game. Five minutes into the contest, Seattle’s Haydn Fleury was whistled off for a tripping penalty, although TV replays showed the Sabre player fell on his own. Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin went for a loose puck behind the Kraken net – somewhat lackadaisically – and was bumped off the play by Yanni Gourde. Gourde found Carson Soucy breaking to the net and the Kraken defenseman fired the puck home.
“It’s hard work. Gourde got right on it,” said Hakstol. “It’s a read. Guys have the green light to go (after the puck carrier instead of staying in a zone defense) when they can without creating a ton of risk. “
Tanev made it 2-0 at 14:40. With Ryan Donato out for high sticking, Dahlin was once again in the wrong spot for the Sabres. Tanev bumped Dahlin along the right-wing boards, got control of the net and headed to the net with the Sabre forward draped all over him. With a delayed penalty coming on the Sabres, Tanev broke free, got off one shot, and tipped in his own rebound.
“Your overall mindset is to try and kill the penalty,” said Tanev, who scored his eighth goal, one more than he had all last season with Pittsburgh. “But if you have the opportunity to take the puck to the net and create a scoring chance…I was fortunate to get a great bounce and have the puck go into the net.”
McCann’s goal at 16:05 – on the rebound of Morgan Geekie’s shot – sent the Kraken to the first intermission with a 3-0 lead. With his 10th goal, McCann became the second Kraken to reach double figures in goals scored. Teammate Jordan Eberle has 11 goals.
In the second and third period, the Sabres cut the Seattle lead to two on four different occasions but could never get closer. After Brett Murray scored his first NHL goal, McCann’s second consecutive goal made it 4-1. Geekie was tied up behind the net but made a one-handed pass to McCann parked all alone in front.
The Sabres finally scored on the power play when Jeff Skinner connected on the rebound of Tage Thompson’s shot, but the Kraken would once again take a three-goal lead to intermission thanks to former Sabre Borgen. The young defenseman picked up his first NHL point when he fired a shot from the point and Appleton scored on a screen in front.
“It wasn’t a great shot,” Borgen laughed after the game. “But Appleton pushed the puck home. That was nice.”
The teams swapped two goals apiece in the third period. After Skinner’s second goal, Jaden Schwartz got into the scoring column thanks to a pass from Gourde. Trailing by three goals, Buffalo coach Don Granato, the brother of Kraken scout Cami Granato, didn’t seem invested in pulling his goaltender for an extra attacker. But when Dylan Cozens scored on another scramble around the net, Sabres goaltender Dustin Tokarski got the hook.
Appleton completed the scoring with 36 seconds remaining. He beat everyone to a clearing pass out of the Seattle zone and had a clear path to the open net.
“It was nice to see guys rewarded, getting on the board for the first time,” said Hakstol. “Apps (Appleton) got his first goal and Borgen got his first point. Geekie gets some points tonight after blocking some shots and playing well defensively. That added to the win.”
The Kraken will have a shot at some other firsts tomorrow. They complete the four-game road trip in Detroit once again aiming for a third consecutive victory. Seattle has won two in a row on three different occasions this season. A win would also give the Kraken their first winning road trip ever. The Red Wings will be playing two nights in a row as they complete a road trip against the Boston Bruins tonight.
GAME NOTES
* Jordan Eberle, who recorded the first ever Kraken hat trick in the 5-2 victory over the Sabres earlier this month, missed the latter portion of last night’s game. TV replays showed that Eberle fell awkwardly midway through the second period and may have landed on his ankle. There should be further news on Eberle’s condition today.
* While the Kraken `three stars’ throw rubber salmon into the crowd after games at Climate Pledge Arena, the team has begun awarding `Davy Jones Hat,’ – a dusty, worn out hat that looks like it could belong to a pirate from a couple of centuries ago. Last night’s recipient Will Borgen recorded his first career point against his former team. “I know most of those guys and I know how they play. It was fun to play against them,” said Borgen, who was the Kraken’s expansion pick from the Sabres.
* The Kraken made no lineup changes last night, going with the same squad that defeated the Florida Panthers on Saturday, 4-1. For the first time this season, Chris Driedger started two consecutive games in net for the Kraken. Still sidelined are captain Mark Giordano, due to COVID protocols, and Calle Jarnkrok out with an undisclosed lower body injury. Forward Colin Blackwell and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon were healthy scratches of the second consecutive game.
* Most likely the team has loftier goals, but some Seattle fans would just be happy to see the Kraken in their first season, finish ahead of their Pacific Division geographic rivals, the Vancouver Canucks. The Kraken are now a point ahead of the Canucks (7-14-2). Vancouver won at Montreal last night, 2-1, after losing in Boston, 3-2, on Sunday. The Kraken host the Canucks on New Years Day.
* Buffalo goalie Dustin Tokarski, who played for Spokane in the Western Hockey League, had a rough night allowing six goals on 26 shots and failing to cover some rebounds. However, Tokarski didn’t always have a lot of help from his defense.
GAME SUMMARY
1ST Period
S – Carson Soucy (Yanni Gourde) shorthanded, 5:47
S – Brandon Tanev (unassisted) shorthanded, 14:40
S – Jared McCann (Morgan Geekie, Jamie Oleksiak) 16:05.
2nd Period
B – Brett Murray (Kyle Okposo) 1:53
S -Jared McCann (Tanev, Geekie) 7:59
B – Jeff Skinner (Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson) power play, 17:27
S – Mason Appleton (Will Borgen, Alex Wennberg) 18:09.
3rd Period
B – Skinner (Victor Olofsson) :37.
S – Jaden Schwartz (Joonas Donskoi, Gourde) 13:44
B – Dylan Cozens (Murray, Okposo) 18:27
S- Appleton (Tanev, Adam Larsson) empty net, 19:35.
Goals/Saves- Seattle: Chris Driedger 4-32. Buffalo: Dustin Tokarski 6-26.
Penalties- Seattle: 4-8. Buffalo 0-0.
Referees- Chris Rooney, Chris Schlenker. Linesmen- Bryan Panich, Travis Toomey.
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