Jets post `fluky' win over Seattle

The Seattle Kraken came within 27 seconds of earning at least a tie against the best team in the NHL last night, but wound up on the short end of a 2-1 decision to the Winnipeg Jets last night at Canada Life Centre.

Making things worse, the Jets game winning score had fluke written all over it. Kraken defenseman Adam Larsson attempted to clear the puck out of the Seattle D-zone but the puck took an odd bounce off the glass and came to Jets’ forward Nicolaj Ehlers.

Ehlers head manned the puck to defenseman Dylan DeMelo who fired the game winner past Kraken goalkeeper Joey Daccord who outplayed Conner Hellebuyck, statistically the best goalie in the NHL (.129 goals against and a .924 save percentage). Daccord stopped 33 shots and was awarded the game’s number one star- a rarity for a player on the visiting team in a losing effort.

DeMelo’s shot went through a screen of players from both teams and Daccord never saw it. For DeMelo, playing in his 600^th NHL game, that was only his second goal of the season. His partner Josh Morrissey is the Jet defender known for his offensive prowess.

The Jets improve to 31-12-3 on the season. Winnipeg and Toronto have the same amount of standings points, but the Jets have one more victory. The Kraken drop to 19-24-1.

``Joey was outstanding,” said Kraken coach Dan Bylsma. ``He probably doesn't have a chance on the last one, because he can't see it. Pretty much everything else he was turning aside and was really strong in there. And great puck play for him as part of our success in breaking the puck out. It's a disappointing result with the effort and the battle we put in for 60 minutes.”

Matty Beniers scored the opening goal for the Kraken as he drove to the net and tipped in a picture-perfect pass from Kaapo Kakko. Plays like that must have Kraken fans agreeing with New York Ranger fans that the Kakko trade (for Will Borgen and draft choices) was a giveaway after Kakko blasted Ranger coach Peter Laviolette.

Jaden Schwartz set up the play when he lofted the puck into the zone from center ice. The line of Schwartz-Beniers-Kakko continues to show a lot of chemistry for the Kraken.

The first Winnipeg goal also came on a tough break for Seattle. Defenseman Jamie Oleksiak was whistled off for interference in front of the net when it appeared that the Winnipeg forward was already falling down.

The Jets scored on the power play as Kyle Connor fired from the right circle. Daccord made the save but the rebound came out to Connor’s teammate Mark Scheifele, who had an open side of the net.

Fun fact: This season Connor has a natural hat trick -three straight goals- and a Gordie Howe hat trick – a  goal, an assist and a fight in the same game. The player he fought, Sidney Crosby, hadn’t received a fighting penalty in five years.

``We had a good start and Winnipeg came on in the second period,’’ said Kakko, who has four goals and seven assists in 13 games for the Kraken. ``Maybe we got a little tired. They spent a lot of time in our zone.’’

The Kraken finish the road trip with a 2-3-0 record and have some tough games coming up on their next homestand. Seattle hosts Los Angeles tomorrow night at Climate Pledge Arena and welcome Buffalo (who the Kraken defeated 6-2 on Jan. 11) for a Monday matinee on Martin Luther King Day.

 

Scoring Summary

First Period

S- Matty Beniers 9 (Kaapo Kakko 16, Jaden Schwartz 17) 8:12.

Second Period

W- Mark Scheifele (Kyle Connor, Josh Morrissey) PPG 9:35.

Third Period

W- Dylan DeMelo (Nikolaj Ehlers) 19:33.

Shots on Goal-Seattle 19 (Vince Dunn 3), Winnipeg 36 (Alex Iafallo 7)

Hits- Seattle 17 (Eeli Tolvanen 4), Winnipeg 16 (Rasmus Kupari, Adam Lowry 3)

Faceoffs- Seattle 56.9%. Winnipeg 43.1%.

Blocked Shots- Seattle 23 (Adam Larsson 6), Winnipeg 17 (Dylan DeMelo 3).

Referees- Wes McCauley, Justin Kea. Linesmen- David Brisebois, Bevan Mills.

Three Stars- 1. Joey Daccord, S. 2. Dylan DeMelo, W. 3. Nikolaj Ehlers, W.