'Boston Boys' have successful homecoming

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Contrary to the old adage, the Seattle Kraken’s Matty Beniers and Joey Daccord did `go home again’ last night and it turned out to be a very successful evening.

With family members in the stands, Beniers tallied three points and Daccord stopped 36 out of 37 shots as the Kraken defeated their former `home team,’ the Boston Bruins, 4-1 last night at TD Gardens.

The Kraken remain consistently inconsistent. After lackluster efforts against the Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils after the All-Star break, the Kraken have posted road wins over the New York Islanders and the Bruins to climb back into the playoff hunt.

Seattle improves to 23-21-10 on the season and have inched their way back into the playoff hunt. The Kraken are tied for ninth (the top eight teams make the playoffs) in the Western Conference. Unfortunately, the Nashville Predators, who like Seattle have 56 points, have four more wins.

“It was great to see Matty flying around,” said Benier’s linemate Jordan Eberle, who scored the first Kraken goal. “It gets you confidence and it gets you going. Joey has been playing well since November.”

Daccord who replaced the injured Philipp Grubauer in November, stopped ten Boston shots, before David Pastrnak opened the scoring with his 34th goal of the season. Daccord recorded six stops overall against Pastrnak, one of the game’s elite scorers.

The Bruins, smarting from two consecutive home losses, came out strong with 10 of the first 11 shots. Pastrnak scored off his own rebound and Eberle would repeat that feat on a Seattle power play. Bruins’ netminder Jeremy Swayman kicked out Eberle’s initial shot but lost sight of the puck, giving the Kraken forward an open net.

The Kraken went ahead to stay when Bruins’ defenseman Brandon Carlo lost an edge on his skate leading to a 2-on-1 breakaway, with Eeli Tolvanen and Beniers coming down on Bruins’ forward Brad Marchand.

Tolvanen scored off a nifty pass from Beniers, but while he didn’t get an assist, Oliver Bjorkstrand set up one of the best screens of the season on Swayman, who never saw the shot. Bjorkstrand was even alert enough to make a little jump so that he didn’t change the direction of the puck.

Berniers, who once played for the Boston Junior Bruins, also was helped by a screen on his eighth goal of the season. This time however, it was Bruins’ defenseman Derek Forbort who prevented Swayman from seeing Beniers’ 20-footer. The play started when Alex Wennberg blocked a shot in the Kraken defensive zone.

Jared McCann finished the scoring for Seattle with an empty-netter in the final minute of the contest.

“It’s great to come back to Boston and get a win,” said Beniers, who grew up in Higham, a town directly East of Boston. “And beating one of the best teams in the league.”

Beniers played in Boston last season (also a Kraken victory), but Daccord was making his first appearance against the team he admitted that he always rooted for.

“It's a really special night,” said Daccord said. “I’m just trying to put everything all into perspective. I grew up through and through a Boston sports fan. I was here when the Bruins won the Cup (in 2011). I was here for Game Six.

“For me personally, this is a really special night. I'm really excited to go see my family and friends. And to share the moment with them because it was really special and pretty emotional for me.”

The Kraken have the weekend off but begin a six-game homestand against Detroit, starting Monday night.

 

Scoring Summary

 

First Period

B- David Pastrnak (Paval Zacha, Charle McAvoy) 4:54. S- Jordan Eberle 10 (Oliver Bjorkstrand 28, Matty Beniers 14) PPG, 9:11.

Second Period

S- Eeli Tolvanen 14 (Beniers 15) 17:35

Third Period

S- Beniers 8 (Alex Wennberg 14) 8:36. S- Jared McCann EN (unassisted) 19:42.

Shots on Goal- Seattle 36, Boston 37.

Hits- Seattle 35, Boston 39.

Penalty minutes- Seattle 4, Boston 4.

Faceoffs- Seattle 52% Boston 47.8.

Referees- Francois St. Laurent, Mitch Dunning. Linesmen- Michael Comier, Jonathan Deschamps.



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