Kraken win season opener

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The Seattle Kraken home opener may have lacked the pre-game luster of some previous openers, but on the ice, this was surely the most impressive of any Kraken home debut.

After splitting two road games, the Kraken defeated the Calgary Flames by a 6-1 margin for the second time this season. After topping the Flames- who appear headed for a run as the worst team in the NHL this season, the Kraken jumped out to a quick lead last night at Climate Pledge Arena.

While not a sellout crowd, the fans in attendance were treated to three goals in the first seven minutes. First, Berkly Catton intercepted an errant pass in the Calgary zone and wristed one past Flames’ netminder Dustin Wolf at 2:22; Catton’s first goal of the season.

Two minutes later, Mackie Samoskevich notched his first goal as a Kraken. A former University of Michigan teammate of the Kraken’s Matty Beniers, waited for Wolf to commit himself and then slid a backhander into the net. Samoskevich, known for his speed, blew past the Flames’ defense to pounce on a clearing pass from Brandon Montour.

Bobby McMann made it 3-0 when he slipped a wrist shot past Wolf. In the second period, Shane Wright (his first goal of the season) and Samoskevich, with his second goal of the night put the game out of reach for the Flames.

``We came into this season with a lot more confidence,’’ said Catton, who set up his linemate Wright for the score. ``(Wright) has such a good shot and he’s dangerous around the net.’’

Actually, the Flames (0-3) outshot the Kraken over the final two periods but Joey Daccord made some tough stops when needed. Unfortunately for Daccord, he would again lose a shutout in the third period as Morgan Frost lit the lamp for the Flames.

Captain Jordan Eberle, would be the only real veteran to score for the Kraken when he completed the scoring at 13:04 of the final stanza.

``We made some nice plays and guys are shooting the puck into the net,’’ said Kraken coach Lane Lambert. ``It gives our guys a lot of confidence.’’

Seattle completes a brief homestand tomorrow night against the Vegas Golden Knights, who also have two wins for four points. The Kraken then head East for a five-game road trip before returning to Seattle on Oct. 20.

KRAKEN NOTES…Forward Jacob Melanson was out of the Kraken lineup for the second consecutive game. In the Kraken’s opener at Calgary, Melanson appeared to fall on his wrist…Forward Curtis Douglas and defenseman Ville Ottavainen were in the Kraken lineup for the first team this season meaning that every player who made the Seattle roster at the beginning of the season has made an appearance.

First Period

S- Berkly Catton 1 (unassisted) 2:22.

S- Mackie Samoskevich 1 (Brandon Montour 1, Ryker Evans 2) 4:40.

S- Bobby McMann 2 (Chandler Stephenson 2) 7:40.

Second Period

S- Shane Wright 1 (Catton 1, Vince Dunn 3) 11:58.

S- Samoskevich 2 (Matty Beniers 2, Jared McCann 4) 19:34.

Third Period

C- Morgan Frost (

S- Jordan Eberle 2 (Stephenson 3, Montour 2) 15:04.

Shots on Goal- Calgary 33. Seattle 27.


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