Kraken `home warriors' vs. Flyers

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After a brief but successful road trip the Seattle Kraken began last night’s five-game homestand looking to improve on last year’s home record. In the 2023-24 season, the Kraken didn’t take advantage of the boisterous crowds that filled Climate Pledge Arena compiling almost the same record at home as on the road.

In their season opener, amidst the hoopla of playing the league’s first North American game (Jersey and Buffalo opened the season in Sweden) the Kraken played about half a game. They dominated the first 25 minutes but the visiting St. Louis Blues took over the contest winning 4-2.

After solid road wins at Minnesota and Nashville how would the Kraken respond in the friendly environs of Climate Pledge?

Well, Philadelphia’s Scott Laughton, a fourth-liner, scored a mere 4:21 into the contest. The Flyers would take a 2-1 lead to intermission with the Kraken not showing much spark. The highlight of the period was the two free-agent signees- Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson- combining for the goal.

As for the second period, it might be hyperbolic to call it the best Kraken period of the season only five games into the campaign. However, Seattle hockey followers may be hard pressed to remember a better period in the team’s three-plus year history.

The Kraken rattled off four unanswered goals, including markers from Jordan Eberle and Shane Wright only eight seconds apart. Plus, Philipp Grubauer made some big saves in the Kraken net and the Brandon’s- Montour and Tanev delivered some bone-crushing bodychecks.

With the 6-4 victory, the Kraken improve to 3-2 on the season and a victory over the division-leading Calgary Flames on Saturday night would give the Kraken – at least point-wise- a share of first place for the first time in team history.

``Our first period was not great,” admitted Kraken coach Dan Byslma. ``But Monty (Montour) got us going. You have to play a complete 60 minutes. Whether it’s coming back or holding a lead. “

Jared McCann, the game’s number-one star, tied the score on power play. Andre Burakovsky found McCann bursting into the zone and the Kraken’s all-time leading goal scorer fired home his third of the 2024-25 season.

The Kraken then followed with a scoring outburst that lit the goal light three times in 2:55. Eeli Tolvanen tipped in Burakovsky’s shot at 14:57 to give Seattle the lead for good. Jordan Eberle scored his fourth at 17:44 off a pass from McCann and Shane Wright chipped in with his first goal of the season only eight seconds after McCann’s score, a new team record.

Similar to the St. Louis game, the visitors scored two quick goals after a mini-line brawl. While the Kraken killed off an extra minor to Montour coming out of the scrum, Flyer defensemen Cam York and Jamie Drysdale scored to cut the lead to 5-4.

However, Oliver Bjorkstrand wrapped things up with a breakaway goal at 14:52, beating Samuel Ersson (who replaced Ivan Fedotov in the nets starting the third period) with a wrist shot to the glove side.

Seattle’s six-goal outburst comes after posting seven against the Predators in Nashville on Tuesday night.

“I think when you have everybody going like we did tonight – the last couple of nights have been good – we’ve just got to be consistent with it,” said McCann. “We’re not going to score six or seven goals every single game, but I think we can do a better job of just focusing and keeping the puck out of our net.”

Defenseman Vince Dunn missed the third period due to what the team called, ``precautionary reasons.’’ Dunn missed last Saturday’s game with Dallas due to an ``upper body injury” but is expected to be in the lineup against Calgary.

Scoring Summary

First Period

P- Scott Laughton (Ryan Poehling, Garnet Hathaway) 4:21. S- Brandon Montour (Chandler Stephenson, Ryker Evans) 18:15. P- Laughton (Hathaway, Poehling) 18:58.

Second Period

S-Jared McCann (Andre Burakovsky 3, Vince Dunn 2) PPG 3:06. S- Eeli Tolvanen (Burakovsky 4, Shane Wright 1) 14:57. S- Jordan Eberle 4 (Jared McCann 3, Yanni Gourde 3) 17:44. S- Wright 1 (Eberle 3, McCann 4) 17:52.

Third Period

P- Cam York (Scott Laughton, Bobby Brink) 10:19. P- Jamie Drysdale (Matvel Michkof) 12 :32. S- Oliver Bjorkstrand 2 (Jaden Schwartz 2, Adam Larsson 2) 14 :52.

Shots on Goal- Philadelphia 25 (Sean Coutier 4), Seattle 29 (Oliver Bjorkstrand 4).

Hits- Philadelphia 27 (Garnet Hathaway 6) Seattle 21 (Brandon Tanev 8).

Penalty Minutes- Philadelphia 19, Seattle 17.

Faceoffs- Philadelphia 54.4, Seattle 48.6.

Blocked Shots- Philadelphia 21 (Cam York 5), Seattle 19 (Adam Larsson 5)

Three Stars- 1. Jared McCann 2. Shane Wright 3. Jordan Eberle

Referees- Kyle Rehman, Corey Syvret. Linesmen- Devin Borg, Andrew Smith.

 

 

 

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