Grubauer shines, Bonderman mourned

 

The Seattle Kraken may have played their worst game of the season against the Boston Bruins last month a 2-0 loss that came the end of a long East Coast road trip. That game was one of Joey Daccord’s best performances of the season as he got little help from the rest of his squad.

Last night at Climate Pledge Arena, Philipp Grubauer earned the start and was the game’s number-one star as the Kraken posted a 5-1 victory over the Bruins. The Kraken’s `German Gentleman’ stopped 30 shots, with Bruins’ captain Brad Marchand scoring the only Boston goal on a penalty shot.

The victory moves the Kraken over the .500 mark (15-14-2). While the Kraken were winless in their last three home games, Seattle boasts a 4-1-1 mark in their last six games. They also lead the all-time series against the Bruins (a perennial Stanley Cup contender) 4-3-1.

``That was kind of nice when we score right away and get the power play,” said Grubauer, who had a .971 save percentage, his best of the season, and has won his last two starts. ``I’ve been on the other side of it, too, where we take a penalty in the first minute.”

Wednesday was a sad day for the Kraken family as David Bonderman, one of the founding fathers in bringing the NHL to Seattle and one of the Kraken co-owners, passed away. His daughter Samantha Holloway, currently the chair of the Kraken executive committee, and several family members were in attendance.

Tod Liewicke, another Kraken co-owner introduced a video highlighting Bonderman’s career and the players wore a patch with `Bondo’ emblazed on it.

“I’m going to dedicate that win to Mr. Bonderman because without him, I don’t think we would be here,” Grubauer said. “And Sam (Holloway). The Bonderman family, what they’ve done for this city and for us is incredible.”

The Kraken came out flying as they capitalized on a four-minute penalty called on David Pastrnak for high sticking (and drawing blood) Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak, 16 seconds into the game.

Chandler Stephenson won the ensuing faceoff and Matty Beniers’ shot was tipped in by Oliver Bjorkstrand in front of the net at the 24-second mark. The Kraken continued the pressure when Boston’s Tyler Johnson picked up a penalty moments after Pastrnak’s penalty ended.

Jaden Schwartz made it 2-0 with a highlight-reel goal. Schwartz took a pass from Shane Wright, brought the puck out of the right corner and lofted a backhander that beat Boston goalie Joonas Korpisalo for the 2-0 lead. The goal came four seconds after Johnson came out of the penalty box. Ironically, Bjorkstand and Schwartz’s goals were both their 50^th in a Kraken uniform.

The Bruins’ only goal was created from a scramble in front of the net. With the puck in the crease, Seattle defenseman Brandon Montour was called for grabbing the puck and the Bruins were awarded a penalty shot. Boston captain Brad Marchand took the shot and scored when the puck went through Grubauer’s legs.

When asked about Grubauer’s performance, Kraken coach Dan Bylsma noted, ``he was really solid. Really good. This was his best game of the year. A couple of one-timers in the first period, but (Grubauer) was solid. And we finally got him some run support.’’

The Kraken haven’t always scored a lot this season with Grubi in the nets, and heading into the third period the Seattle held a tenuous 2-1 lead. But that changed at the 3:07 mark when Vince Dunn literally batted the puck past Bruin Korpisalo. Because Dunn’s stick was below the goalpost, the goal counted.

Bjorkstrand added his second goal of the night at 9:16 and Jared McCann’s empty netter wrapped things up.

The Kraken continue a four-game homestand when they welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning to Climate Pledge Arena tomorrow night.

 

First Period

S- Oliver Bjorkstrand 10 (Matty Beniers 13, Chandler Stephenson 18) PPG :24. S- Jaden Schwartz, S, (Wright 5)  5:14.

Second Period

B- Brad Marchand (penalty shot) 10:28.

Third Period

S- Vince Dunn 4 (Jared McCann 15, Andre Burakovsky 10) 3:07. S-Bjorkstrand 11 (Wright 6, Eeli Tolvanen 6) 9:16. S- McCann 11 (Brandon Tanev) 18:06.

Shots on Goal- Boston 34 (David Pastrnak 6), Seattle 21 (Jaden Schwartz 5).

Hits- Boston 23 (Elias Lindholm 6), Seattle 26 (Tye Kartye, Eeli Tolvanen 6).

Faceoffs- Boston 56.6%, Seattle 43.2%.

Penalty Minutes- Boston 6, Seattle 2.

Blocked Shots- Boston 19 (Nikita Zadarov 4),  Seattle 20 (Jamie Oleksiak 4).

Referees- Chris Rooney, Graham Skilliter. Linesman- Ryan Gibbons, Joe Mahon.

Three Stars- 1. Phillip Grubauer 2. Oliver Bjorkstrand 3. Shane Wright.