Kraken down Pens with balanced scoring attack

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On Thursday night, future Hall-of-Famer Alex Ovechkin scored a goal against the Seattle Kraken Yesterday afternoon, future Hall-of-Famer Sidney Crosby came to Climate Pledge Arena and lit the lamp. But that’s where any similarity between the two games ended.

While Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals looked like the team that has the best record in the NHL posting a 3-0 win, the Kraken had their way with Crosby’s slumping Penguins en route to a 4-1 victory.

The Kraken have now won four of their last five, improving their record to 22-25-3 on the season. Joey Daccord, solidifying himself as the Kraken‘s Most Valuable Player this season, was the game’s number-one star with 28 saves on 29 shots.

Offensively, four different players scored for the Kraken and nine players had at least one point. When pressed, Kraken coach Dan Bylsma (4-0 against Pittsburgh and Buffalo this season, the two NHL teams he previously coached) admitted it could have been the Kraken’s best passing game of the season.

With the score tied, 1-1 in the second period, Kris Letang was called for cross-checking Matty Beniers, giving the Kraken a two-man advantage. At that point, Seattle called a timeout, an uncharacteristic move that early in the game, but the Kraken wanted to set up a play, five-on-three.

It took some time, but Jared McCann found Vince Dunn, who drove a shot home from the point, his first goal in ten games. After the game, Dunn credited Jaden Schwartz for the screen he set up in front of the net.

Bylsma said he couldn’t remember the last time the Kraken had a five-on-three advantage. For the record, it was Oct. 19, against Calgary (a 2-1 win).

``You want to be on the same page,’’ said Bylsma of the Kraken timeout. ``You want to get your looks. Our guys did a great job of it. It took us 40-50 seconds to get the final look from Dunner. But we had three or four other opportunities.’’

After a scoreless first period, the Kraken’s first goal originated with Chandler Stephenson pouncing on a loose puck and heading up the ice. Stephenson, who missed the third period of the Kraken’s match with Washington, dropped a pass to Andre Burakovsky who then sent a dart to Oliver Bjorkstrand, standing at the right of the net. Bjorkstrand punched home his 16th goal of the season.

The Kraken lead lasted a little over two minutes as Pittsburgh scored off some nifty passing, Richard Rakell, from behind the net, finding Crosby in front.

Pittsburgh started the third period with some offensive pressure, but Eeli Tolvanen gave Seattle a big insurance goal with a slapper from about 20 feet out. McCann picked up his second assist with a pass from the boards after taking a lead pass from Shane Wright.

Matty Beniers notched the final Kraken goal after linemate Kaapo Kakko picked off an errant pass at center ice.

Daccord has now won five of his last seven starts after being sidelined the early part of the month with an injury.

``I know if I just play like myself and play like I’m able to, then I don’t need to elevate above what I’m capable of at a consistent level,’’ said Daccord. ``So I just try to bring the same mindset, the same focus, same energy levels every single day.

``I like playing a lot,’’ said Daccord, when asked about his heavy workload. ``I think most goalies will tell you, they like to play a lot. I felt like the third period of the last game just rolled into this one.’’

The Penguins are now 20-23-8 and have lost three of their last four. Evegeni Malkin, the Pens other superstar left the game in the first period with an apparent injury and didn’t return.

The Kraken travel to Edmonton tomorrow night and return to Climate Pledge for a game with Anaheim on Tuesday.

Scoring Summary

First Period

No scoring

Second Period

S- Oliver Bjorkstrand 14 (Andre Burakovsky 14, Chandler Stephenson 26) 2:16.

P- Sidney Crosby (Richard Rakell, Kris Letang) 4:34.

S- Vince Dunn 9 (Jared McCann 26, Chandler Stephenson 27) PPG 17:46.

Third Period

S- Eeli Tolvanen 12 (Jared McCann, Shane Wright) 5:06.

S- Matty Beniers 11 (Kaapo Kakko) 13:06.

Shots on Goal- Pittsburgh 29 (Kevin Hayes, Kris Letang 4), Seattle (5 with 3)

Hits- Pittsburgh 21 (Bokonji Imama 3) Seattle (Eeli Tolvanen 4).

Penalty Minutes- Pittsburgh 6, Seattle 4.

Blocked Shots- Pittsburgh 11 (3 with 2). Seattle (Adam Larsson 3).

2Referees- Frederic L’Ecuyer, Graham Skilliter. Linesmen- Brandon Panich, Trent Knorr

Three Stars- 1. Joey Daccord 2. Jared McCann 3. Vince Dunn


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