Kraken drop 5th in a row

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If any team could use a holiday break, it’s the Seattle Kraken. Last night, the Kraken dropped a 5-2 decision to the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena, the team’s fifth consecutive loss. On Saturday, Seattle was on the short end of a 6-2 decision to the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Kraken (15-19-2) now have a week to regroup and hopefully recharge as the NHL takes a week off. Seattle even gets a few extra days off as their next contest will be Dec. 28. Several teams have games on the 23rd and 27th.

Seattle did show more energy and played a more physical game against the Avalanche (the team the Kraken knocked out of the playoffs in 2023) but the  Kraken were still only able to generate 23 shots on Colorado netminder Mackenzie Blackwood.

Another bright spot for the Kraken was the play of Kaapo Kakko, acquired earlier in the week in a trade with the New York Rangers. Kakko’s first goal was a highlight reel score. Matty Beniers won the faceoff and Kakko shot the drop pass through a maze of bodies into the net. TV replays showed that the puck went through a linesman’s legs. That goal gave Seattle a brief 2-1 lead. Kakko also led the Kraken with five hits in the game.

“I thought that was Kakko’s best game, just seeing what he can do,” said Bylsma post-game. ``That includes the shot for the goal, but also his down-low play, a big body being at the net.’’

Kakko also led the Kraken with five hits and had a chance to tie the game in the third period but he fired wide of an open net. Jaden Schwartz also had a breakaway in the final stanza but Blackwood made the pad save. Seattle’s Eeli Tolvanen hit the crossbar earlier in the game.

“It feels a little better to get the first one out of the way,’’ said Kakko of his first Seattle goal. ``But, I mean, you gotta win the games. I felt better than the last couple of games. We got the puck in the O-zone a little more and spent time down low.”

Colorado took a first period lead when Kraken nemesis Cale Maker scored on the second of three Avs power plays in the first period. Kraken goalie Joey Daccord was screened and never saw Makar’s drive from the point.

The Kraken tied the game with three minutes left in the first. Yanni Gourde circled the net and hit Jared McCann who scored on a  one-timer directly in front.

Seattle’s only lead would last a mere 11 seconds. Nathan McKinnon (last season’s MVP) outmuscled Jamie Oleksiak for the puck in front of the net and dropped a pass to Valeri Nichushkin, who fired home.

Colorado would take the lead for good as Joel Kiviranta and Mikko Rantanen went in on a breakaway with Kiviranta netting the goal at 12:01 of the second period. The game was closer than the final score indicated, as Kirivanta scored twice into the open net in the final minutes for one of the easier hat tricks.

``I like how we stuck in the game,’’ said Bylsma. ``We had to kill three penalties in the first period. We stayed in the fight. They’re a good team, but we gave them one, too many chances.”

The Kraken have two games remaining in the 2024 calendar year. They play at Vancouver on Dec. 28 and host the Utah Hockey Club (formerly the Phoenix Coyotes) on Dec. 30.

 

KRAKEN-AVALANCHE

Scoring Summary

First Period

C- Cale Makar (Mikko Rantanen, Nathan McKinnon) PPG, 10:05. S- Jared McCann 12 (Shane Wright 9, Yanni Gourde 13)  17:55.

Second Period

S- Kaapo Kakko 5 (Matty Beniers 5) 4:01. C- Valeri Nichushkin (Nathan McKinnon) 4:12. C- Joel Kiviranta (Mikko Rantanen, Makar) 12 :01.

Third Period

C- Kiviranta (unassisted) empty net, 17:26. C- Kiviranta (Parker Kelly, Makar) EN, 18:28.

Shots on Goal- Seattle 19 (Kaapo Kakko 3), Colorado 21 (Joel Kiviranta 5)

Hits- Seattle 31 (Kaapo Kakko 4), Colorado 14 (Jere Innala 3).

Penalty Minutes- Seattle 8, Colorado 2.

Faceoffs- Seattle 49.1%. Colorado 50.9%.

Blocked Shots- Seattle 18 (Jamie Oleksiak 4), Colorado 15 (Ross Colton 3).

Referees- Trevor Hansen, Tom Chmielewski. Linesmen- Ryan Gibbons, Tommy Hughes.

Three Stars- 1, Joel Kiviranta, 2.

SATURDAY NIGHT

GOLDEN KNIGHTS 6 KRAKEN 3

Scoring Summary.

First Period

 S- Vince Dunn 5 (Oliver Bjorkstrand 13, Chandler Stephenson 19) PPG. V- Keegan Kolesar (Victor Olofsson, Brayden McNabb) 12:39. V- Brett Howden (Jack Eichel) 13:50. V- Nicolas Hague (Mark Stone, Eichel) 17:48.

Second Period

No scoring.

Third Period

V- William Karlsson (Kolesar) 8:09. V- Noah Hanifin (Mark Stone, Tanner Pearson) 11:28. S- Jaden Schwartz 9 (Shane Wright 8, Chandler Stephenson 20) PPG, 13:58. V- Mark Stone (Howden) EN, 18-51.

Shots on Goal- Seattle 23 (Jared McCann, Andre Burkakovsky 3) Vegas 34 (Tomas Hertl, William Karlsson 4)

Hits- Seattle 26 (Eeli Tolvanen 6) Vegas 12 (Keegan Kolesar 5).

Penalty Minutes- Seattle 2, Vegas 8.

Faceoffs- Seattle 53.8% Vegas 46.2%.

Blocked Shots- Seattle 15 (Jamie Oleksiak 4) Vegas 14 (Brayden McNabb 4).

Referees- Frederic L’Ecuyer, Corey Svret. Linesmen- Kiel Murchison, Caleb Apperson.

Three Stars- 1. Keegan Kolesar 2. William Karlsson 3. Nicolas Hague.

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