Come from behind hockey; never good. That’s what the Seattle Kraken were staring at early after giving up two goals to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first 7:24 of the first period.
The Lighting struck just 90-seconds into the game and were all over their visitors from Seattle. Bolts defenseman Ian Cole scored the first one from the point that actually went in off Kraken D-man Carson Soucy’s boot.
Defenseman Erik Cernak joined the rush and ripped one home from the right wing circle past Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer to make it 2-0.
Fleury Vs. Fleury
It was Kraken Cale, wearing number-8, vs. Lightning Haydn, wearing number-7, on Tuesday night at Amalie Arena. It’s the third time the brothers have played against one another in the NHL.
Cale, the recently turned 24-year-old right-shot D-man, and Haydn, the 26-year-old lefty, also played two games together last season with the Kraken. They both dressed for Seattle against the Boston Bruins on February 1st, 2022 and then again the next night at the New York Islanders.
The two competed against one another in the Western Hockey League in major juniors. Cale skated with the Kootenay Ice and Haydn with the Red Deer Rebels.
Turning Point
It came with the Kraken trailing the Bolts just 2-1 at the 12:13 mark of the 2nd period.
The Kraken penalty kill was very good in the first period and outstanding in the second period before Corey Perry scored a weird goal with four seconds remaining on a Brandon Tanev tripping penalty. The Lightning hadn’t had a sniff until Perry seemingly skated in harmlessly on the right wing, fanned on a pass, and then fired a shot short-side past Grubauer, who would love to have it back.
The wind came out of the sea monster’s sails.
Brayden Point followed it up 1:25 later with a highlight-reel rush into the zone, past a completely juked Adam Larsson, with a top-shelf backhander on ‘Grooby’.
Party over. Martin Jones took over for the Kraken in net.
Bolts forward Ross Colton would add his 7th of the season before the period was over.
Tampa Bay scored on three consecutive shots.
Kraken Goal Scorers
1st Period
2-1 Lightning – Even Strength – Jared McCann (13) from Jordan Eberle, 18:39
On a 2-on-1, Eberle sauced it over to McCann on the left wing and he buried it short-side on Andrei Vasilevskiy.
3rd Period
6-2 Lightning – Even Strength – Ryan Donato (4) from Yanni Gourde, 19:55
Donato tucks one up under the bar cutting to the net on the backhand just before the end of the game.
Moving On
Steven Stamkos scored the Lightning’s 6th goal of the night, his 16th of the season, and the 497th of his NHL career. He has a 14-game point scoring streak.
Tampa Bay finished 1-for-3 on the power play; Seattle 0-for-3. Shots were 38-30 in favor of the Kraken.
No Kraken stars selection this evening. The Kraken visit the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night.
