Ultimately, throughout a herky jerky match that found a hard time establishing a consistent tempo, the Seattle Kraken were simply the better hockey team for longer stretches against the San Jose Sharks, resulting in the home team’s 8-5 victory. It’s the most goals the franchise has ever scored in a game.
There were fits and starts, multiple momentum changes, and plenty of offense from both teams. The Kraken eventually won it going away.
Kraken Goals
1st period
1-1 Andre Burakovsky (5th) tied the game at the 9:44 mark on the power play, assists to Jared McCann, Vince Dunn.
The Kraken’s leading scorer with 18 points, Burakovsky simply walked down into the left wing circle and ripped one home.
2nd period
2-2 Vince Dunn (3rd) tied the game at 5:52 at even strength, assist to Matty Beniers.
Beniers drove hard to the net, started in behind it and dished a backhand pass to Dunn in front for a one-time swipe.
3-2 Ryan Donato (2nd) gave the Kraken the lead for the first time on assists to Daniel Sprong and Morgan Geekie.
On a similar play to Dunn’s goal only with more room, Sprong fed Donato from the endboards; Donato had time to stickhandle once before zipping it five hole. Even strength.
4-2 Jamie Oleksiak (4th) extended the lead at 10:11 with an extra attacker on a delayed Sharks penalty call on assists to Justin Schultz and Burakovsky.
Oleksiak cruised down to the bottom of the left wing circle and Schultz found him on the move with a slap-pass for a redirect past goalie Kaapo Kahkonen. Even Strength.
3rd period
5-4 Oliver Bjorkstrand (2nd) gave the Kraken the lead again at 2:48 on assists to Yanni Gourde and Brandon Tanev.
Following a Sharks turnover, Bjorkstrand was alone in front and undressed Kahkonen when he shelfed a dirty backhand. Even Strength.
6-4 Jaden Schwartz (6th) tallied at 3:47 from Burakovsky and Beniers to account for the game winner.
The rapid goals worked the Climate Pledge Arena into a frenzy as Schwartz went top shelf from the slot at even strength.
7-5 Matty Beniers (6th) gave Seattle some final breathing room at 15:16 with assists to Jared McCann and Carson Soucy.
As the trailer on a 3-on-2, Beniers had plenty of time to stroll down the slot and smoke a twisted wrister stick side. Yet another even strength goal.
8-5 Schwartz (7th) scored an empty netter to wrap things up at 19:25, unassisted.
Schwartz battled a puck free on the left wing boards at center ice and snapped it along the ice into an empty net.
The Kraken fired 27 shots-on-goal, the Sharks 26. Seattle finished 1-for-3 on the power play, San Jose went 1-for-2.
Kraken 3 Stars:
1) Matty Beniers – 3 point night – a goal and two assists – now leads NHL rookie scorers with 14 points.
2) Vince Dunn – goal, assist, plus-5, 2 shots on goal, 4 hits, 2 blocked shots with a team high 24:18 in ice time.
3) Andre Burakovsky – 3 point night – a goal and two assists – but instead of plus-4 like Beniers, Burakovsky was even.
The Kraken are in sole possession of 2nd place in the Pacific Division with a record of 11-5-and-3 and 25 points.
Seattle goalie Martin Jones started every game of the homestand and went 4-1-and-1.
