Knights squeeze past Kraken, 2-1

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One of the stated goals when playing against a team like the Vegas Golden Knights is to stay out of the penalty box. The Seattle Kraken were successful in that regard last night not picking up a single penalty against the Knights.

But the playoff-bound Knights (and probable Pacific Division regular season champs) still posted a 2-1 victory at T-Mobile Arena in the Kraken’s final road game of the season.

The Knights (48-22-9) now lead the second-place Los Angeles Kings by six points with three regular-season games remaining. The Kraken lately have posted victories over team’s that are comfortably in the playoffs (see their recent wins over Edmonton and Los Angeles), but while they were unable to emerge victorious, the game still served as a bounce back performance from the Kraken’s Tuesday night disaster against the Utah Hockey Club (a 7-1 loss).

``It was a really good start to the game,’’ said Kraken coach Dan Bylsma, whose squad falls to 34-40-6 on the season. ``We had a bunch of good shifts from all lines and getting much better from our group. A bounce back from the whole team, but Joey (Daccord), in particular, obviously gave us a bounce back game tonight.’’

Daccord was his old self in the Kraken net stopping 23 of 25 shots. The netminder was pulled after two periods at Utah after surrendering six goals in two periods (admittedly Daccord didn’t get much help from the team in front of him and he was a last-minute starter with Philipp Grubauer out with an illness).

Jared McCann scored the only Kraken goal in the second period. Adam Larsson fired a shot from the point and McCann and Jordan Eberle charged the net with McCann, the Kraken’s all-time leading scorer, tapping the puck home.

McCann has had a `down’ season with only 22 goals after scoring 40 in the Kraken’s playoff run two years ago. But the veteran winger has had a hot stick lately with five goals and nine assists in his last ten games.

Ivan Barbashev gave Vegas a 1-0 lead at 6:58 of the first period when he intercepted a clearing pass by Adam Larsson and fired home a one-timer.

William Karlsson, known as `Wild Bill’ to Knights’ fans made it 2-0 at 7:56 of the second period, scoring off a drop pass from Reilly Smith.

The Kraken pressured in the final minute with Brandon Montour having the best scoring chance in the final minute. With Vegas goalkeeper Aidan Hill down, Montour couldn’t lift the puck over the Knights’ sprawling defender Brayden McNabb. Hill was selected the number-one star of the game with 24 saves.

“We want to finish strong, not only for ourselves but for the fans as well,” said Larssen of the Kraken’s final home games. “Now we have two home games to do that.’’

In other Kraken news, Jaden Schwartz has been nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy awarded goes to the NHL player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the sport of hockey. The award’s named after Bill Masterson, the only NHL player to be killed in an NHL game.

An expansion selection from the St. Louis Blues, Schwartz missed half of the Kraken’s first season and 20 games last year with injuries. With captain Jordan Eberle and co-captain Yanni Gourde (since traded) out this season with injuries, Schwartz was the Kraken’s team leader on and off the ice, and also the team’s leading scorer.

According to those close to the team Schwartz has always been a calming presence and helpful to the team’s younger players.

Every team nominates a player, three finalists are selected and the winner’s voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Scoring Summary

First Period

V- Ivan Barbashev (unassisted) 6:58.

Second Period

V- William Karlsson (Reilly Smith, Brayden McNabb) 7:56.

S- Jared McCann 22 (Jordan Eberle 16, Adam Larsson 24) 17:21.

Third Period

No scoring.

Shots on Goal- Seattle 25 (Michael Eyssimont 4), Vegas 25 (Ben Hutton 3)

Hits- Seattle 14 (John Hayden 3), Vegas 12 (Zack Whitehead 4).

Penalty Minutes- Seattle 0, Vegas 4

Faceoffs- Seattle 44.4%. Vegas 55.6%.

Blocked Shots- Seattle 22 (Vince Dunn 5), Vegas 20 (Brayden McNabb 4),

Referees-Kelly Sutherland, Mike Sullivan. Linesman- Ryan Gibbons, Killian McNamara.

Three Stars- 1. Adin Hill. 2. William Karlsson. 3. Brayden McNabb.


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