It was the first post-trade deadline game for the Kraken and that means some new-look forward lines and defensive pairings along with some new faces in the dressing room. But any question of how this group would address those changes on this night was answered across 60 minutes of play. The second period was the most active with five goals. And while Arizona scored first, two Carson Soucy goals plus a Daniel Sprong tally on the power play established a lead the Kraken wouldn t relinquish. Backed by Philipp Grubauer, Seattle would go on to earn a 4-2 win in Arizona.
This Kraken didn t make the start of this game easy on themselves. In the first 10 minutes of play, the team took three penalties, including a double-minor that kept the penalty kill on the ice for the majority of the first period (just 8:38 was played 5-on-5). But captain Mark Giordano wasn t going to let that deter him and after he returned to the ice from his own penalty, he scored the first Kraken shorthanded goal at Climate Pledge Arena, which was also his second in three games. With stellar play coming from Philipp Grubauer in net, as penalties quieted, Seattle was able to find their footing and hold serve against the Bruins. Jordan Eberle scored second to tie the game at 2-2 and that score would hold through regulation, earning the Kraken one standings point. But, ultimately, the bid for a victory would fall short with Jake DeBrusk beating Grubauer from a sharp-angle shot short side just 33 seconds into overtime, ending the game 3-2.
Seattle came into Anaheim trying to avoid a series sweep by the Ducks who had previously bested them in two earlier meetings, and avoid it they did. Anaheim s powerful offense was true to form, attacking through the first 40 minutes of play, but it was the Kraken who got on the board first. While the Ducks would answer Seattle s first two scores, and gain a lead halfway through the second, the Kraken fought for a tie going into the final 20 minutes. The visitors quieted their opponent s attack in the third period with Jordan Eberle delivering the exclamation point of a game-winner with 1:42 left to play. It was Eberle s first goal in 23 games (he last scored Dec. 6 vs Pittsburgh).Let s look at the game "by the numbers."
We talk all the time about concepts and ideas that analytics tell us are "good" in hockey. But what we don t always talk about is how those concepts come to life in the actual game. Unlike football or baseball which allow for more discrete planning play to play, hockey demands on-the-fly evaluation and decision-making by every player on the ice.
Coming off a short All-Star break, Seattle shook off some rust as they hosted the visiting Coyotes. While the Kraken were able to generate shots on net, Arizona converted a few miscues into scores to go up 2-0 through 40 minutes of play. Colin Blackwell started the third period off with the first home shorthanded Kraken score, but a response goal quieted Seattle s comeback bid. Let s look at the game "by the numbers."