The Seattle Kraken entered the game against the Chicago Blackhawks looking to be the first NHL or NBA team in history to sweep a road trip of seven of more games. They would accomplish the feat in a big way and there was never any doubt, pounding out six goals in the first period against the over-matched Blackhawks.
Martin Jones started in net for Seattle. Petr Mrazek started for Chicago and was replaced after the fourth Seattle goal by Alex Stalock.
The only Chicago goal of the period, scored by Jonathan Toews, actually went in off Seattle defenseman Jamie Oleksiak’s stick.
Kraken Goal Scorers
1st Period
1-0 Kraken – Even Strength – Daniel Sprong (14) from Morgan Geekie and Brandon Tanev, 2:50
Sprong raced down the left wing, cut hard to the net and tucked the puck past goalie Mrazek.
2-1 Kraken – Even Strength – Matty Beniers (17) from Vince Dunn, 9:30
A long wrist shot from the mid-point found its way through traffic blocker-side.
3-1 Kraken – Even Strength – Jared McCann (20) Ryan Donato, 10:46
Off a Blackhawks turnover, McCann picked up the puck on the right wing, skated in and ripped one home.
4-1 Kraken – Even Strength – Andre Burakovsky (12) from Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle, 12:08
On a quick little double-feed from the right wing boards, Burakovsky made no mistake alone in front.
5-1 Kraken – Even Strength – Eeli Tolvanen (7) from Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand, 12:45
Tolvanen beat his man to the net and chipped a puck on the rush over 2nd Chicago goalie Stalock.
6-1 Kraken – Even Strength – Jared McCann (21) from Ryan Donato and Alexander Wennberg, 13:11
McCann’s scores 5-hole with a twisted wrister from the right wing circle.
— Thirteen different Seattle players picked up points in the first period including all twelve forwards.
3rd Period
7-3 Kraken – Even Strength – Jared McCann (22) from Adam Larsson and Alexander Wennberg, 1:24
An absolute rocket on a wrist shot, top shelf from the top of the right wing circle.
8-3 Kraken – Even Strength – Oliver Bjorkstrand (7) from Jamie Oleksiak and Yanni Gourde, 2:37
Alone in front, Bjorkstrand snapped a shot 5-hole on Stalock.
— Seattle outshot the Blackhawks 30-27. The Seattle power play went 0-for-2, Chicago 1-for-2
— With two late Pacific Division games pending on the west coast, Seattle moved into a tie with the Kings for second place with 56 points, two points out of first place behind the Golden Knights. Seattle has multiple games in hand on both teams.
Kraken 3 Stars:
1) Jared McCann – A hat trick for the left shot winger, now up to 22 goals on the season.
2) Matty Beniers – A goal and an assist for the 20-year-old who has a 10-point lead in the NHL rookie scoring race.
3) Ryan Donato – Stepping in for dinged up Jaden Schwartz, Donato ended up with two assists.
