Kraken suffer `weird' loss to Flames

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The first period of the Seattle Kraken’s game with the Calgary Flames had a little of `weirdness’ and unfortunately for the Kraken, most of the weirdness went against them.

In what could be considered a must-win game for the Kraken, the home team lost two goalie interference reviews in the first period, not to mention coming up on the short end of the penalty calls, as Calgary scored three first period goals to take a 3-0 lead.

The Kraken fought back with single markers from Kaapo Kakko and Brandon Tanev but the Flames fought back to post a 3-2 victory.

That was a weird start,” said Kakko, who scored his ninth goal of the season after coming to Seattle in a trade with the Rangers a month ago. ``Be we’ve just got to keep playing. It was a hard first 20 minutes so, you get back to the locker room and just start again.’’

The bottom line for Seattle – the Kraken (23-28-3) are now ten points behind the Flames (26-19-7) the team they’ll presumably have to catch to earn a playoff berth.

“I think a lot of events in that period were not how we wanted them to go,” said a diplomatic Kraken coach Dan Bylsma after the game. “From the calls to the goals. And yeah, we had to reset.”

Jaden Schwartz appeared to have given the Kraken a 1-0 lead midway through the first period but Flames’ coach Ryan Huska asked for a video review of the goal.

On replay it appeared that Schwartz’s stick hit the stick of Flame goalie Dan Vladar (whether that impeded Vladar from making the save could be debated) but after a long review- not a good sign for the Kraken- the goal was disallowed.

After the game, Schwartz intimated to reporters that the referees on the ice told him they thought it was a good goal but the NHL replay room in Toronto obviously disagreed.

The Flames then scored a goal that counted at 14:03, Morgan Frost scored his first goal in a Calgary uniform after being acquired in a trade from the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this week.

Two minutes later, Calgary defenseman Braydon Pachal delivered an open ice hit on Kraken forward Andre Burakovsky, and Jared McCann went after Pachal. When players were separated, the refs felt that Pachal’s delivered a shoulder hit (not an elbow) and McCann received four minutes in penalties to Pachal’s two.

With the Flames on the power play, Igor Sharakovich’s shot trickled through the legs of Kraken goalkeeper Joey Daccord. But Sharakovich appeared to hit Daccord’s goalie pads.

After a discussion between referees Pierre Lambert and Graedy Hamilton (working only his 13th NHL game) the goal was counted and Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak received a two-minute slashing penalty.

Seattle called a time out and finally decided to challenge the goal. Hence, another long review- maybe a good sign for the Kraken?- the call from Toronto, no interference and the goal counted.

The power play goal freed McCann from the penalty box but the call on Oleksiak stood and the Kraken also received a two-minute delay of game penalty for an unsuccessful goal challenge. The Flames’ Jonathan Huberdeau took advantage of the 5-on-3 scoring on a scramble in front of the net to make it 3-0.

Helped by power plays in the first period, the Flames outshot the home team, 18-8. But Seattle came alive in the second and third period – the final shot total was only 35-31 in favor of Calgary.

Kakko’s wrist shot at 14:31 of the second period and Tanev’s drive to the net for a score in the third period, gave Kraken fans some hope. But the Flames hung on for the victory.

The Kraken host the Detroit Red Wings, who currently own one of the wild card slots in the Eastern Division, tomorrow night.

Scoring Summary

First Period

C- Morgan Frost (Igor Sharakovich, Martin Posposil) 14:03.

C- Sharakovich (Mikael Backlund, Rasmus Andersson) PPG, 16:47

C- Jonathan Huberdeau (Nazem Kadri, Mackenzie Weeger) PPG, 17:56.

Second Period

S- Kaapo Kakko 8 (Jaden Schwartz 17, Josh Mahura 6) 14:31

Third Period

S- Brandon Tanev 9 (Jared McCann 27, Shane Wright 18) 5:41.

Shots on Goal- Calgary 35 (Jake Bean, Morgan Frost 5), Seattle 31 (Brandon Montour 8)

Hits- Calgary 18 (Martin Pospisil 7) Seattle 24 (Eeli Tolvanen, Adam Larsson 4)

Penalty Minutes- Calgary 8, Seattle 14.

Faceoffs- Calgary 58.0%  Seattle 42.0%.

Blocked Shots- Calgary 21 (Joel Hanley, Mackenzie Weeger 4), Seattle 13 (Brandon Tanev 3)

Referees- Pierre Lambert, Graedy Hamilton. Linesmen- Kiel Murchison, Shander Alfonso.

Three Stars- 1. Igor Sharakovich 2. Jonathan Huberdeau C. 3. Joey Daccord S. 

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