Never like to say stuff like this, but the Kraken made things look easy on Tuesday night. There was a certain air of confidence against a struggling Anaheim Ducks team that allowed Seattle to score early and take control of the game.
There was never really any doubt.
Poor John Gibson. The Ducks goalie has suffered through some tough seasons recently and this year could be the bottom-out. He didn’t help by allowing a soft goal to provide Seattle some insurance.
Let’s see how the Ducks do in the NHL Draft lottery.
Meanwhile, Seattle goalie Philipp Grubauer was sound at the other end, turning aside most everything that came as way. He shared that air of confidence.
With the Kraken up 2-0, he did give up a fancy, trick-shot goal to Trevor Zegras just 35-seconds into the 2nd period. On a solo rush, Zegras went between the legs with his shot past ‘Grooby’.
Kraken Goal Scorers:
1st Period
1-0 Kraken – Even Strength – Jamie Oleksiak (9) from Jordan Eberle and Matty Beniers, 3:41
Some nifty passing in the O-zone led to Eberle firing a pass from behind the net to ‘The Big Rig” in front.
2-0 Kraken – Even Strength – Jared McCann (31) from Adam Larsson and Matty Beniers, 10:58
Off a 4-on-3 rush, McCann received a pass in the left wing circle and unleashed a twisted wrister, top shelf.
2nd Period
3-1 Kraken – Even Strength – Daniel Sprong (16) from Brandon Tanev and Justin Schultz, 17:16
Sprong’s wrister from the far side of left wing circle was mishandled by Gibson and it dropped in behind him. Soft one.
3rd Period
4-1 Kraken – Power Play – Eeli Tolvanen (13) from Jared McCann and Vince Dunn, 8:29
Tolvanen unleashed a one-timer from the right wing circle off a cross-ice feed.
5-2 Kraken – Even Strength (empty netter) – Jaden Schwartz (15) Unassisted, 19:42
He stole a puck at center ice and fired it home.
— Seattle allowed a meaningless Max Comtois goal late, prior to Schwartz’s empty-netter, from on the doorstep,
— Seattle outshot Anaheim 31-22. Power plays: Anaheim 0-for-3, Seattle 1-for-2.
— With the Kraken win and Vegas Golden Knights loss to the Florida Panthers earlier Tuesday, Seattle moved to within two points of the 1st place tie between Vegas and the LA Kings in the NHL’s Pacific Division. Those two have 82 points, Seattle 80. Vegas and Seattle have a game in hand on Los Angeles.
Kraken 3 Stars:
1) Jared McCann – Goal and an assist and three shots on goal. Background feature coming here tomorrow.
2) Matty Beniers – Two assists for the NHL’s leading rookie scorer. Two shots.
3) Jamie Oleksiak – The Big Rig was jumping in the play and cashed in to open the scoring.
