Kraken thump slumping Canucks

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When hockey people talk about `getting inside’ they mean forwards getting behind the opposition defense and causing havoc for opposing goaltenders.

It’s a strategy the Seattle Kraken haven’t been successful with since joining the National Hockey League three and a half years ago, but last night at Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle forwards tipped in three shots from the defense en route to a 6-3 victory over their geographic rivals the Vancouver Canucks.

A total of 12 different Seattle players entered the scoring column (Shane Wright, Brandon Montour and Eeli Tolvanen had two points) as the Kraken responded from Tuesday night’s `clunker,’ against the St. Louis Blues a 7-2 Kraken loss.

“How we got our goals is a good bounce-back message for the guys," said Kraken coach Dan Bylsma, "Getting to the net, net-front, going to the inside, fighting and battling.’’

Trailing 2-1 in the second period, the Kraken rattled off three tip-in goals by forwards off defensemen’s shots- Oliver Bjorkstrand off Montour’s drive, Matty Beniers on Vince Dunn’s shot, and Tolvanen from Vince Dunn.

Those goals were sandwiched around Dakota Joshua’s short-handed marker as the Kraken took a 4-3 lead to the intermission. Montour, who has perhaps the hardest shot on the team, scored a goal of his own to make it 5-3 in the third period and Tolvanen added an empty netter. Kraken captain Jordan Eberle had an assist on Montour’s goal, his first point since returning from pelvic surgery.

``We encourage players to go the net,’’ said Bylsma. ``You have to get inside to score some goals. It takes courage (to sometimes get roughed up by opposing defenders).’’

Wright set up the first Kraken goal when he hustled to a loose puck and then set up Andre Burakovsky with a cross-ice pass. Burakovsky fired one over the right shoulder of Canuck goalie Kevin Lankinen.

“When at we’re at best, when we ‘re competing, winning pucks and hunting their ‘D,’ just being physical, being competitive and moving our feet,” said Wright, who now has 13 points in his last 11 games.

The Kraken improve to 26-31-4 on the season and while it appears they’d have to climb over too many teams to earn a playoff spot, the Canucks (27-25-11) have now lost three of their last four and only lead the Calgary Flames by one point while holding on to the eighth and final playoff berth in the Western Conference.

Last night was `Kraken Night’ at Climate Pledge, representing the fourth anniversary of Kraken season tickets first going on sale. It was an enthusiastic Saturday night crowd that filed into the arena including many Canuck fans, although no one appeared to boo either National Anthems.

Vancouver fans did do the sing-song, ``Joey, Joey’’ chant when Kraken goalie Joey Daccord allowed two first period goals (one off an egregious turnover when Ben Meyers missed Dunn’s pass from behind the net) but that subsided when Daccord made some big saves in the second and third period. Dunn also saved a goal when he blocked a shot with Daccord out of the net.

Kraken fans get excited now when Daccord has the puck and the opposing team has pulled the goalie for an extra attacker. The Seattle netminder has stated he wants to score a goal and he took a shot at it in last night’s closing minutes. Unfortunately, there were too many players at center ice and Vancouver defenseman Tyler Myers knocked down the puck.

``I told him he has to shoot harder,’’ joked Bylsma. ``That (shot) was a muffin.’’

The Kraken return to action, Tuesday night, when they host the Minnesota Wild.

Game Summary

First Period

S- Andre Burakovsky 6 (Shane Wright 22) 8:52.

V- Pius Suter (unassisted) 11:56.

V- Filip Chytil (Tyler Myers, Marcus Petterson) 11:27.

Second Period

S- Oliver Bjorkstrand 4 (Brandon Montour 14, Wright 23)  4:11.

V- Dakota Joshua (Drew O’Connor) SH 8”05.

S- Matty Beniers 14 (Vince Dunn 16) 12:08.

S- Eeli Tolvanen 17 (Ryker Evans 17, Chandler Stephenson 31) 13:08.

Third Period

S- Brandon Montour 11 (Jared McCann 29, Jordan Eberle 6) 5:38.

S- Tolvanen 18 (Dunn 17) EN 18:29.

Shots on Goal- Vancouver 31 (Jake DeBrusk 5) Seattle 24 (Andre Burakovsky 6).

Hits- Vancouver 29 (Derek Forbert 6). Seattle 24 (Eeli Tolvanen 5).

Penalty Minutes- Vancouver 4. Seattle 4.

Faceoffs- Vancouver 44.1%. Seattle 35.9%.

Blocked Shots- Vancouver 20 (6 with 2). Seattle 12 (4 with 2).

Referees- Cody Beach, Jean Hebert. Linesmen- Brandon Gawryletz, Bevan Mills).

Three Stars- 1. Brandon Montour. 2. Shane Wright. 3. Eeli Tolvanen.


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