Daccord, Oleksiak and another Kraken comeback

 

The Seattle Kraken are below .500 this season (19-23-3) But when they do win a game, especially lately, it seems to be a come-from-behind effort. That was the case last night in Pittsburgh, where the Kraken scored three third-period goals to ice the Penguins, 4-2.

``Games look different all over the map and you have to be able to play the game you’re in and stick with it for 60” said Kraken coach Dan Bylsma ``We played our best hockey after they scored the second goal to make it 2-1 [in the second period].”

The Kraken opened the scoring with their first shorthanded goal of the season. The play started with Seattle goaltender Joey Daccord. After a save, Daccord sent the puck ahead to Jared McCann along the left wing boards. McCann hit Chandler Stephenson in the center of the ice, who beat Pittsburgh goalie Tristan Jarry for his sixth goal of the season.

Daccord, who like many goalies, dreams of scoring a goal someday, picked up his first career assist on the play (Philipp Grubauer has three lifetime goalie assists for the Kraken.) He also kept the Kraken in the game over the first two periods. Pittsburgh outshot the Kraken, 16-2, in the first period and had a 20-9 advantage over two frames.

“We clearly had to weather the storm in the first period and played a lot of D-zone as a result,” said Bylsma. “Joey was excellent on numerous occasions."

Philip Tomasino deadlocked the game at 9:19. Daccord made the original save but Tomasino tapped the puck through the goalies’ pads. The Pens had their only lead of the game with the only goal of the second period. With a delayed penalty coming up against Adam Larsson for cross-checking Penguin superstar Sidney Crosby, the Penguins found the extra man, and Bryan Rust fired home from the right of the net.

The Penguins haven’t played well in the third period this season, and that trend continued. Jamie Oleksiak, a former Penguin, tied the game at 8:44. With Seattle pressing in the Pitt offensive zone, Oleksiak came off the bench, took a pass from Oliver Bjorkstrand and headed unimpeded to the net for his third goal of the season.

Eeli Tolvanen would score the game winner only 15 seconds later. Defenseman Josh Mahura took the puck down the ice, whirled behind the net, and centered a pass to Shane Wright. Wright fed Tolvanen at the doorstep and he beat Pittsburgh goalie Tristan Jarry.

Kaapo Kakko then iced the game with an empty netter after Larsson intercepted a clearing pass. Amidst the celebration, Kakko was apparently hit with a ten-minute misconduct for barking at the officials. Moments before the goal he had been crosschecked (without the puck) by the Pens’ Evgeny Malkin.

Another head scratcher was Daccord not being awarded one of the three stars. Along with 31 saves, he also set up a goal, and generally covered up for Seattle defensive mistakes.

“Night in and night out, you really don’t have to worry about him,” said Oleksiak. “He’s such a professional with his day-to-day, how he treats the game. It makes you want to play that much harder for him.”

Kraken general manager Ron Francis was interviewed before the game and reiterated that Seattle captain Jordan Eberle may be back in the lineup sometime in February. Eberle had pelvic surgery after crashing heavily into the boards in a November 14 game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Still no word on the return of Yanni Gourde from the injured list. John Hayden played his second game of the season and led the Kraken with six hits.

Seattle concludes its five- game road trip tomorrow night in Winnipeg. The Kraken (19-23-3 overall) are 2-2 on the trip.

Scoring Summary

First Period

S- Chandler Stephenson 6 (Jared McCann 20, Joey Daccord 1) shorthanded, 2:12.

P- Philip Tomasino (Drew O’Connor, Kris Letang) 9:19.

Second Period

P- Bryan Rust (Erik Karlsson, Evgeny Malkin) 4:42.

Third Period

 S- Jamie Oleksiak 3 (Oliver Bjorkstrand 16, Adam Larsson 7) 8:44.

 S- Eeli Tolvanen 11 (Shane Wright 13, Josh Mahura) 8:59

 S- Kaapo Kakko (Adam Larsson 8) empty net, 18: 57.

Shots on Goal- Seattle 16 (Jamie Oleksiak, Josh Mahura 3). Pittsburgh 33 (Bryan Rust 4).

Hits- Seattle 28 (John Hayden 6), Pittsburgh (P.O. Joseph 3).

Penalties- Seattle14, Pittsburgh 4.

Faceoffs- Seattle 36.5%. Pittsburgh 63.5%.

Blocked Shots- Seattle 17 (Brandon Tanev 3). Pittsburgh (3 tied with 2).

Referees- TJ Luxmore, Furman South Linesmen- CJ Murray, Brandon Grillo.

Three Stars- 1. Eeli Tolvanen, S. 2. Jamie Oleksiak, S. 3. Philip Tomasino, P.