The Seattle Kraken produced an instructional video on Friday night called “how to bury yourselves against the Oilers” starring Edmonton superstar Connor McDavid.
It started with a tripping penalty against Kraken D-man Carson Soucy at the 2:01 mark.
In speaking to Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol before the game, Seattle Hockey Insider brought up the match-up of the OIlers top NHL power play against the Kraken’s 31st-ranked penalty kill.
“You’re playing against a team that’s scored the highest percentage of their goals on the power play, top power play in the league” Hakstol said. “There’s a fine line there right, we’ve got to have some sandpaper to our game, have some grit to our game, but there has to be a fine line there in terms of discipline and putting them on the power play too often.”
It took Edmonton 43-seconds to cash in on the man advantage to go up 1-0. Apparently the goal deflated the Kraken enough that they decided to give up odd-man-rushes and leave Oilers open in front of the net. Before the midway point of the period, 9:58 to be exact, it was 4-0 Oilers. McDavid had three assists.
Seattle starting goalie Philipp Grubauer got mercy yanked and replaced by Martin Jones at three-nothing.
More of the Same
There was a glimmer of hope for the Kraken when Vince Dunn dropped the mitts with OIlers rookie forward Dylan Holloway at the 1:31 mark of the second period and delivered a big right hand. The crowd got fired up, the team jumped back into the action and Seattle scored a goal :39-seconds later.
They’d never get closer than three goals the rest of the evening.
Kraken Goal Scorers
2nd Period
4-1 Oilers – Even Strength – Daniel Sprong (11), from Morgan Geekie and Ryan Donato, 1:50
On a 2-on-1, Sprong fired a wrister off Stuart Skinner’s glove and in. Probably one the goalie should have caught.
6-2 Oilers – Even Strength – Brandon Tanev (6), from Adam Larsson and Vince Dunn, 7:33
Tanev poked in a rebound just inside the post on the backhand off a quick scramble in front.
— The Oilers power play finished 2-for-2, the Kraken’s 0-for-3. Shots were 38-32 in favor of Seattle.
— McDavid, the NHL’s leading scorer, ended up with a goal and four assists. He has 72 points on the season.
— The Seattle Kraken host the New York Islanders at Climate Pledge Arena on New Year’s Day at 5 pm pacific.
