DeBrusk – future Kraken? – leads Bruins

Tough times continued for the Seattle Kraken last night at the Climate Pledge Arena as the Kraken dropped a 3-2 decision to the Boston Bruins. However, unlike losses in their previous five games, the Kraken were able to muster one point in the standings against the oldest United States team in the NHL.

The teams finished regulation in a 2-2 tie thanks in large part to Kraken netminder Philipp Grubauer who stopped a total of 35 shots. Seattle falls to 16-33-5. The Bruins are 30-17-4, and holding on to the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

“We played our asses off tonight,” said Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol “We played a full 60 minutes.”

Jake DeBrusk, who has asked the Bruins to trade him, scored two goals including the game-winner at 33 seconds of the overtime session. If DeBrusk wants to come to Seattle it was certainly a successful audition. Although it helped that DeBrusk played most of last night’s game on a line with two future Hall-of-Famers – Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand.

Things started ominously for the Bruins in their first-ever visit to the Emerald City. While the contest didn’t seem that combative or chippy the referees – veteran Dean Morton and relative newcomer Chris Schlenker were in a whistle-tooting mood. The Krakens were the victims of the tight officiating as they picked up four penalties in the game’s first five minutes -That included a double-minor to defenseman Adam Larsson and the Kraken were at a 5-on-3 disadvantage for over a minute.

Despite their offensive firepower the Bruins were unable to score. In fact, Seattle captain Mark Giordano tallied a short-handed goal on a cross-ice pass from Joonas Donskoi. It was the veteran defenseman’s second short-hander in three games and the first at Climate Pledge Arena.

DeBrusk tied the score when defenseman Jeremy Lauzon’s clearing pass hit the top of the net and DeBrusk was there for the rebound.

Boston finally did get a power-play marker in the second period when David Pastrnak, one of the league’s more entertaining players to watch, scored his 19^th goal in 21 goals . Pastrnak was open for only an instant when he took a lead pass from defenseman Charlie McAvoy and one-timed a shot from the right circle.

Jordan Eberle, who played well against the Bruins in the playoffs last season with the New York Islanders, tied things up before the second intermission. Eberle patiently waited for Bruin goalie Linus Ullmark to commit himself and then fired the shot home.

DeBrusk then notched the game-winner at 33 seconds of OT. While the Kraken faithful haven’t been “outnumbered’’ by visiting team fans in any game this season, Boston probably had the best turnout of any visiting team at Climate Pledge and those wearing the black-and-gold went home happy.

The Kraken have an opportunity to get back into the victory column on Sunday night when they visit San Jose to face the Sharks, who are winless in their last six games.

GAME NOTES

Seattle was missing its top goal-scorer and point-getter Jared McCann in last night’s game. Hakstol said McCann, who’s had a `hot stick’ since the All-Star break, shouldn’t miss much time with an upper-body injury.

The Kraken have employed more former Bruins than any other NHL team with Lauzon, Ryan Donato, Marcus Johansson, Karson Kuhlman (who busted his shoulder in his second game with the Kraken) and Austin Czarnik. Donato’s from the Boston area (as are Kraken forward Colin Blackwell and minor-league goalie Joey D’Accord) and played at Harvard for his father Ted Donato, a former Bruin. When young Donato played in Boston last month he had enough friends and relatives at the game that they were able to rent an entire box. Unfortunately, father Ted missed the game. Harvard had a game against Boston University that night.

Last night was `Black Lives Matter’ night at Climate Pledge. The fact that Boston was the opponent was probably not a coincidence – Willie O’Ree, the first Black player to compete in the NHL, joined the Bruins in 1958. Boston recently retired his number `22.’

The Kraken made history last week (Feb. 17 at Winnipeg) when Everett Fitzhugh, the KJR radio voice of the Kraken, joined J.T. Brown on the Kraken’s ROOT TV telecast. Fitzhugh and Brown became the first all-black team to announce an NHL game together. Fitzhugh’s also the first fulltime black play-by-play announcer in the NHL.

Michigan begins NCAA tournament play this weekend against Notre Dame. Most hockey followers know the story of the Wolverines, who have had seven players drafted in the first round of the NHL draft in the past two seasons. Anything less than a national title would be a disappointment. Recently, there’s speculation that the top two picks in last year’s draft – Owen Power (Buffalo) and Matty Beniers (Seattle) could play some in the NHL this season after the NCAA’s. There’s been a history of players – notably Boston’s Craig Janney and the Islanders’ Ken Morrow – who’ve gone right from college (or the Olympics) into the NHL playoffs. Benier’s won’t lead Seattle to the playoffs but it would be exciting for the fans to see him in Kraken black, blue and white.

GAME SUMMARY

1^st Period

S – Mark Giordano (Riley Sheahan, Jamie Oleksiak) shorthanded, 3:29.

B – Jake DeBrusk (Erik Haula, Craig Smith) 17:32.

2^nd Period

B – David Pastrnak (Charlie McAvoy, Matt Grezylck) power play, 3:29.

S – Jordan Eberle (Calle Jarnkrok, Marcus Johansson) 13:18.

3^rd Period:

No scoring.

Overtime

B – DeBrusk (Charlie Coyle, McAvoy) :33.

Goals/Saves – B: Linus Ullmark 2-25. S: Philipp Grubauer 3-35.

Penalties – B: 3-6. S: 5-10

Referees – Dean Morton, Chris Schlenker. Linesman – Steve Barton, Trent Knorr.