Kraken defense goes on offense

 

Afternoon hockey seemed to agree with the Seattle Kraken yesterday as they exploded for six goals en route to a 6-4 victory before an enthusiastic Martin Luther King Day crowd.

A total of 12 Kraken players got into the scoring column including four defensemen – Ryker Evans, Vince Dunn, Jamie Oleksiak and Adam Larsson. With their second consecutive victory, Seattle’s record goes to 21-24-3 on the season.

The Kraken built a 3-1 lead in the second period against beleaguered rookie goalkeeper Devon Levi. However, the Sabres tied the game before Jamie Oleksiak, known as `The Big Rig,’-stepped into the play and fired home a 20-footer.

“There was a portion of the second period where things got a little sideways,” said Kraken coach Dan Bylsma “The response goal by the Wrighter line (Wright and Jared McCann drew assists on Oleksiak’s goal) and Rig supporting that with a goal was huge for us.”

Adam Larsson, also known for his defense, notched his third goal of the season in the third period on a shot from the right circle. Oleksiak would garner the 100th assist of his career on McCann’s empty net goal with 1:04 left in the game. Those appearances in the scoring column made Oleksiak and McCann the top two stars of the game and afforded them a rare opportunity to partake in the post-game ceremony - tossing the toy Kraken into the stands.

``It’s fun that Jamie and I both scored,’’ said Larsen. ``But we probably shouldn’t get used to it. (The Kraken) were on our toes tonight. We executed and we were clean bringing the puck out of our zone.’’

While teams like to get off to fast starts – not playing from behind- the Kraken have been successful in a lot of games this season where they’ve fallen behind. In this case, it was Jack Quinn who gave the Sabres an early 1-0 lead when he slid a shot past Joey Daccord.

Seattle would quickly tie the game thanks to the hard work of John Hayden and Mitchell Stephens behind the net. They battled along the boards with the Buffalo defense and Stephens sent the puck back to Evans (two assists) at the point. Evans fired and Hayden tapped home the rebound in a skirmish in front of the net. It was Hayden’s first goal and Stephens second assist of the season.

“You want the fourth line to provide energy. You want them to provide physicality. You want them to put the other team back on their heels when they get the opportunity,’’ said Bylsma. ``But tonight, it's an offensive zone shift. They are crashing the net, being around the net, and banging one home.”

With Yanni Gourde sidelined with an injury, Hayden and Stephens, who both started the season with the Kraken’s AHL affiliate in Coachella Valley, have formed an energetic fourth line with Brandon Tanev.

Chandler Stephenson’s eighth goal of the season sent Seattle to the intermission with a 2-1 lead and the Kraken’s appeared to have things under control when Matty Beniers scored a power-play goal at 6:31 of the second period.

But the Sabres were resilient tying the game on goals by Jason Zucker and Tage Thompson before Oleksiak put the Kraken in front for good at 16:34.

Buffalo had one last gasp as Alex Tuch made it 5-4 after the Sabres pulled Levi for an extra attacker. But the Kraken responded only 14 seconds later when JMcCann fired from in front of the Seattle bench all the way down into the empty net.

With a second straight win, the Kraken have won their last ten games where they’ve scored at least four goals.

Seattle continues its homestand on Thursday when they host Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.

Scoring Summary

First Period

B- Jack Quinn (Owen Power, Peyton Krebs) 5:07.

S- John Hayden 1 (Mitchell Stephens 2, Ryker Evans 15) 5:34.

S- Chandler Stephenson 8 (Olivere Bjorkstrand 18, Evans 16) 11:06.

Second Period

S- Matty Beniers 10 (Stephenson 24, Vince Dunn 10?) PPG 6:41.

B- Jason Zucker (Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson) 9:31.

B- Thompson (Mattias Samuelsson, Krebs) 15:38.

S- Jamie Oleksiak 4 (Shane Wright 14, Jared McCann 21) 16:34.

Third Period

S- Adam Larsson 3  (McCann 22, Eeli Tolvanen 8) 10:25.

B- Alex Tuch (Dylan Cozens) 18:39.

S- McCann 14 (Oleksiak 7) empty net, 18:56

Shots on Goal- Buffalo 29 (Jiri Kulich 6) Seattle 34 (Andre Burakovsky 5)

Hits- Buffalo 18 (2 with 3)  Seattle 16 (Eeli Tolvanen 5).

Penalty Minutes- Buffalo 4, Seattle 6.

Faceoffs- Buffalo 48.1%. Seattle 51.9%.

Blocked Shots- Buffalo 7 (Dylan Cozens 3), Seattle 12 (Josh Mahura 3).

Referees- Wes McCauley, Jordan Samuels-Thomas Linesmen- Caleb Apperson, Killian McNamara.

Three Stars- 1. Adam Larsson 2. Jamie Oleksiak 3. Jared McCann.