After going 4-0 on their most recent road trip there was a possibility that the Seattle Kraken might come out flat in last night’s game versus the Anaheim Ducks at Climate Pledge Arena. Anaheim came into the game with a in .397 winning percentage (21-35-8 overall) and clearly in the lottery mix for consensus No. 1 pick Connor Bedard
Thanks to scoring from five different players, the Kraken won their fifth consecutive game besting the Ducks 5-2 on `Women’s Night.’ With the win, Seattle (37-21-6) moves two points ahead of the Edmonton Oilers for third place in the Pacific Division. Seattle trails the Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings, who are currently tied for first, by two points in the standings. The Knights lost 2-1 at the Florida Panthers last night.
“We’re in a race of our own right now,” said Jared McCann, who scored his team high 31st goal of the season. “We’re trying to stay ahead of Edmonton and we’re trying to get in a better position for playoffs. We need to be focused every single night.”
Seattle moved two points ahead of the Edmonton Oilers for third place in the Pacific Division. It trails the Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings by two points for first after Vegas lost 2-1 at the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.
“This is one of those we thought we might have to grind out. I liked the intelligence of our team,” Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said. “We had some recognition that we weren’t maybe going to be at our best in terms of energy. As we got through to the second half of the game, we managed it pretty well.”
Jamie Oleksiak gave Seattle a 1-0 lead at 3:41 of the first period. The burly defenseman crashed the net and banged home a pass from behind the net by Jordan Eberle, Oleksiak has a career nine goals on the campaign. A total of 13 Kraken have at least ten goals this season.
Washington’s Alex Ovechkin, who may end his career as the NHL’s all-time leading scorer, scores a lot of his goals from what the media calls `his office,’ shots from the circle. Lately McCann has been setting up a business at the top of the left circle where he fires what ESPN’s John Buccigross calls his `twisted wrister’ into the net. McCann made it 2-0 at 10:58 when he one-timed a pass from defenseman Adam Larsson into the net. Matty Beniers picked up a secondary assist on the first two Kraken goals and was voted the number-two star of the game behind McCann.
“Just trying to get the puck off as quickly as I could,” McCann said. “Larsson made a great play in the middle, so did Matty. Just wanted to get the puck off as quickly as possible. I’m lucky to play with two great linemates. Matty and (Jordan Eberle). Ebs has been feeding me a lot since I’ve got here.”
The Ducks cut the lead to 2-1 only 35 seconds into the second period thanks to a highlight reel goal from Travis Zegras. After getting behind the Kraken defense, Zegras switched from his forehand to his backhand, passing the puck to himself between the legs, and fired the puck top shelf into the net. Zegras made highlights last year with a lacrosse-type shot that he batted into the net.
Much of the second period was a boring affair with lots of play in the neutral zone but Daniel Sprong, a healthy scratch the previous two games, gave the Kraken a much needed insurance goal at 17:28. Sprong’s shot went off the glove of Anaheim goalkeeper John Gibson, his first goal since Jan. 17.
The Kraken made it 4-1 on a power-play goal in the third period. For once, McCann opted not to shoot from the left circle but passed across to Eeli Tolvanen who sent it home. Tolvanen’s scored 11 goals as a Kraken (13 overall) since being picked up on waivers from Nashville at the beginning of the calendar year.
Action heated up midway thru the period, when Vince Dunn took a jarring high hit from Anaheim’s Max Comtois that wasn’t called by either of the on-ice referees. Dunn was down on the ice for several seconds but he made his way to the bench. While on the bench, Dunn was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for barking at the refs. At the next play stoppage, referee Graham Skilliter skated over to the penalty box area and after apparently conferring with the off-ice officials, Dunn was sent to the dressing room. A cascade of boos filled the arena as Dunn skated off, many fans probably thinking he’d been thrown out of the game.
“(The decision) came from up top. That’s the (concussion) protocol,” Hakstol explained after the game. “I have no reason right now not to think he’s okay. But we haven’t received a report.”
Adding insult to injury, Comtois would score a goal on a tip-in at 18:33 to keep the Ducks’ faint hopes alive. But Jaden Schwartz would score an empty-netter to wrap things up for the Kraken.
Phillip Grubauer played another solid game in the nets for the Kraken. He turned aside 20 shots. Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins told reporters after the game he thought his team had more `Grade A’ scoring chances than the Kraken.
“We understand it’s late in the year so we want to get into our game as fast as possible,” said Brandon Tanev. “Playing detailed hockey. Playing fast. Getting into our forecheck and getting some great saves from our goaltender.”
Seattle hosts the Ottawa Senators tomorrow night. The Senators are currently out of the playoffs but they haven’t thrown in the towel acquiring highly sort after defenseman Jakob Chychrun from the Arizona Coyotes.
GAME NOTES
- This marks the fourth time this season the Kraken have won at least five in a row; their longest winning streak is eight.
- Jared McCann has scored five goals in his last five games and has recorded a point now in six straight games. Twice this season, he’s had streaks of five consecutive games.
- The Kraken faced the Ducks twice at the Honda Center in Anaheim this season, and blew 4-2 leads in both games. The Ducks won the opening game of the season, 5-4, and the Kraken repaid the favor, winning the next game by the same score. The Pacific Division rivals play once more on Mar. 30 at Climate Pledge Arena.
- Seattle defenseman Vince Dunn had an assist to extend his point streak to seven consecutive games (nine points; two goals, seven assists).
SCORING SUMMARY
First Period
S- Jamie Oleksiak (Jordan Eberle, Matty Beniers) 3:41. S- Jared McCann (Adam Larsson, Matty Beniers) 10:58.
Second Period
A-Trevor Zegras (Ryan Strome, Scott Harrington) :35. S- Daniel Sprong (Brandon Tanev, Justin Schultz) 17:16.
Third Period
S- Eeli Tolvanen (McCann, Vince Dunn) 8:29. A- Max Comtois (Jacob Silfverberg, Cam Fowler) 18:33. S- Jaden Schwartz (unassisted) EN 19:42.
Shots on Goal- Anaheim 22, Seattle 31
Penalty Minutes- Anaheim 6, Seattle 8.
Referees- Graham Skilliter, Brandon Schrader. Linesmen- Bevan Mills, CJ Murray.
Three Stars- 1. Jared McCann, S. 2. Matty Beniers, S. 3. Philipp Grubauer, S.
