The Seattle Kraken had pep in their step right from the start of this Saturday night game against the LA Kings and Jared McCann would score at the 4:42 mark of the first period to give Seattle a 1-0 lead with assists to Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle.
It was McCann’s 7th goal of the season and the 100th of his NHL career.
It all came down to whether or not the Kraken could get that killer next goal, the second one, to help squash the drive of a Kings team playing the 2nd half of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in four nights.
The answer was no. Despite two 2nd period power play opportunities and countless high-end scoring chances, the Kraken struggled to solve LA netminder Cal Petersen. The man with the right-handed catching glove kept his team in it until Kings center Phillip Danault capitalized on a Will Borgen D-zone turnover and batted a puck in behind goalie Martin Jones.
1-1 at the 18:52 mark of the second period, setting up a clutch 3rd period for both teams.
Nitty Gritty Time
Or maybe kooky time would be a better description.
With Kings defenseman and former Norris Trophy winner Drew Doughty going to the penalty box just :20 seconds into the third period for hooking, the Climate Pledge Arena got optimistic.
Whoops! A bad read/pinch by Vince Dunn at the left point led to a chip pass and a shorthanded breakaway goal for Trevor Moore just fifteen seconds later.
No worries for the Kraken faithful, as the power play continued, Daniel Sprong would rip one home from the left wing circle at the :53-second mark to tie the game again.
Just a routine first minute. 2-2.
Crunch Time?
Win in regulation and the Kraken would be tied with the Kings for 2nd place in the Pacific Division with three games in hand.
That’s not how it worked out. Instead, a third consecutive overtime game for the Kraken. Each team earned a point in the standings and the Kraken would earn a second one.
3-2 – Seattle – 3-on-3 even strength – Jordan Eberle (5) from Justin Shultz, 2:23
The Kraken move to within one point of the Kings for 2nd place in the division,
— Birthday boy, 24-year-old right-shot defenseman Cale Fleury, playing in just his third game of the season while subbing for injured Jamie Oleksiak, logged 17:11 in ice time, had two shots on goal and blocked three shots.
Kraken 3 Stars
1) Jordan Eberle – Game winning goal and an assist.
2) Jared McCann – Opened the scoring with his 100th career goal.
3) Matty Beniers – No points but great stick, puck possession, two hits, two shots in 18:31.
