Kraken drop two, fall in standings

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The Seattle Kraken played a good game against a good team then a bad game against a (relatively) bad team, but both nights the result was the same – a Seattle loss.

The Kraken dropped a 6-4 decision to the Anaheim Ducks last night at Climate Pledge Arena, and it’s starting to look like the local team will need a periscope to see a Western Conference playoff berth.

The previous night, the Kraken dropped a 4-2 decision to the division-leading Edmonton Oilers, but continued to show that they’ve played much better in recent contests. Against the Ducks, old, bad habits resurfaced as Seattle blew a 3-2 lead, eventually falling behind 5-3.

To make matters worse, Anaheim (21-23-6) moves one point ahead of the Kraken (22-27-3). Seattle, now in seventh-place in the Pacific Division, trails Calgary by eight points for the final playoff berth.

Despite the Kraken’s early lead, Coach Dan Bylsma noted, ``I don’t think the first was a comfortable period for us. There were too many opportunities for them, with their rush and skill, to come back at us. We had some answers for them with some goals of our own. But it manifested itself more in the second period with clear turnovers of the puck.”

Philipp Grubauer making his first start in seven games (and he’d been pulled early in his last two starts) gave up a goal to Anaheim’s Troy Terry on the second shot of the game. Allowing early goals has been a problem for Grubauer this season.

However, the Kraken tied the game on Eeli Tolvanen’s 20-footer, the third consecutive game he’s scored, off a pass from Brandon Montour (three assists).

Mitchell Stephens gave the Kraken a brief lead with his first goal of the season, and the Ducks’ Cutter Gauthier and Seattle’s Jaden Schwartz swapped goals in a high-scoring first period.

Anaheim had three unanswered goals in the second period to take a 5-3 lead, a couple of which could be considered `soft’ goals. But in his post-game press conference Bylsma sidestepped any opportunity to throw his goalie under the bus.

``We hung him out to dry,’’ Bylsma stated.

“It was breakdowns – breakdowns that went in the back of the net,” said Montour. “We gave them chances, and they capitalized. No matter who you’re playing, it’s tough to keep a game going when they’re scoring five or six goals. So, we need to clean some things up.”

Ironically, Grubauer may have made his best save of the season late in the first period, when he dove in the air to snare a shot by the Ducks’ Trevor Zegras.

Shane Wright gave the Kraken faithful some hope when he netted a power-play goal at 6:45 of the third but Frank Vatrano wrapped things up with an empty-netter for the Ducks.

The Kraken continue their homestand tomorrow night against the cellar-dwelling San Jose Sharks.

KRAKEN-DUCKS

Scoring Summary

First Period

A-Troy Terry (Ryan Strome, Frank Vatrano) 1:22.

S-Eeli Tolvanen 14 (Brandon Montour 16) 6:43.

S- Mitchell Stephens 1 (Jamie Oleksiak 8, Tye Kartye 4) 8:20.

A-Cutter Gauthier (Robby Fabri) 11:59.

S-Jaden Schwartz 17 (Kaapo Kakko 21, Matty Beniers 18) 14:01.

Second Period

A-Mason McTavish (Strome, Jackson Lacombe) 1:04.

A-Robby Fabbri (McTavish) 5:39.

A-Lacombe (Isac Lundestrom, Brett Leason) 7:58.

Third Period

S- Shane Wright 9 (Jared McCann 25, Montour 17) PPG 6:15

A-Vatrano (unassisted) empty net, 18:46.

Shots on Goal- Anaheim 21 (Frank Vatrano 6), Seattle 27 (Vince Dunn 8)

Hits-Anaheim 15 (Radko Gudas 5), Seattle 12 (Tye Kartye, Jaden Schwartz 2)

Penalty Minutes- Anaheim 10, Seattle 8.

Faceoffs- Anaheim 40%, Seattle 60%.

Blocked Shots- Anaheim 20 (Radko Gudas 5) Seattle 11 (Adam Larsson 3).

Referees-Francis Charron, Cody Beach. Linesmen- Kiel Murchison, Bevon Mills.

Three Stars- 1.Jackson Lacombe 2. Mason McTavish. 3. Brandon Montour

 

KRAKEN-OILERS

Scoring Summary

First Period

S- Eeli Tolvanen 13 (John Hayden 1, Shane Wright 16) 3:37.

E- Mattias Janmark (Connor Brown, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) 14:27.

S- Vince Dunn 10 (Matty Beniers 17) 17:41.

Second Period

E- Connor McDavid (Leon Draisaitl, Mattias Ekholm) 1 :57.

E- Corey Perry (Darnell Nurse) 8:38.

Third Period

E- Mattias Ekholm (unassisted) empty net, 19:02.

Shots on Goal- Seattle 28 (Vince Dunn), Edmonton 21 (Mattias Ekholm 5)

Hits- Seattle 18 (Eeli Tolvanen 4) Edmonton (Ty Emerson 4).

Penalty Minutes- Seattle 2, Edmonton 8.

Faceoffs- Seattle 48.9% Edmonton 51.1%.

Blocked Shots- Seattle 15 (Brandon Montour 4), Edmonton 11 (Ty Emerson 3).

Referees- Jean Hebert, Francois St. Laurent. Linesmen- Brandon Gawryletz, Caleb Apperson.

Three Stars- 1. Calvin Pickard 2. Corey Perry. 3. Mattias Ekholm.


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