The Seattle Kraken will see the Coyotes three times in seven days. This was game one, won by the Kraken 8-1.
Based on Arizona’s inability to break-out of their own end on a consistent basis, and the amount of room Seattle found on the ice offensively, particularly early on, this result came as no surprise.
Seattle’s magic number to reach the playoffs is now at 5 points with six games to play. Earning that would close out the closest non-playoff team, the Calgary Flames.
As you’ll notice below, Seattle leading goal scorer Jared McCann made the most of playing in his 500th career NHL game.
Ivan Prosvetov, the 24-year-old from Moscow, earned the start for the Coyotes while German Philipp Grubauer got the nod in net from Seattle head coach Dave Hakstol.
Kraken Goal Scorers:
1st Period
1-0 Kraken – Power Play – Jordan Eberle (17) from Daniel Sprong and Justin Schultz, 4:54
Positioned in the high slot, Eberle waited for a slap/pass from Sprong and redirected it perfectly.
2-0 Kraken – Shorthanded – Jared McCann (36) from Matty Beniers, 15:07
McCann cut to the slot and barely got the shot off through sticks and traffic, but he beat Prosvetov gloveside.
— McCann has scored three of Seattle’s six shorthanded goals this season.
2nd Period
— Former Florida Panthers 1st-round NHL Draft pick Lawson Crouse put the Coyotes on the board by finishing a cross-ice pass.
3-1 Kraken – Even Strength – Carson Soucy (3) from Daniel Sprong and Vince Dunn, 11:58
Soucy had options down low after finding himself at the bottom of the left circle, where he fired it five-hole.
4-1 Kraken – Even Strength – Jared McCann (37) Unassisted, 15:03
After rushing up the left wing boards, McCann toe-dragged around a Coyotes D-man and ripped one left post and in.
5-1 Kraken – Even Strength – Will Borgen (3) from Alexander Wennberg and Morgan Geekie, 1:18
With 3 Coyotes drifting over to hound Wennberg on the left wing, he found Borgen with plenty of time in the high slot.
6-1 Kraken – Even Strength – Oliver Bjorkstrand (19) from Eeli Tolvanen and Vince Dunn, 11:01
Although Yanni Gourde was creating havoc just in front of him, Prosvetov should have had the tough angle shot.
7-1 Kraken – Power Play – Morgan Geekie (8) from Ryan Donato and Yanni Gourde, 18:05
Geekie cashed in on a juicy rebound with a backhander just in front of the crease.
8-1 Kraken – Even Strength – Ryan Donato (14) from Brandon Tanev and Justin Schultz, 19:33
On a 2-on-1, Donato sniped on the rush on the right wing.
— Seattle outshot the Coyotes 32-21. Power plays: Arizona 0-for-3, Seattle 2-for-7
Seattle 3 Stars:
1) Jared McCann – What a night. Tallies the two goals in his 500th NHL game.
2) Daniel Sprong – Involved in battles all night with two assists.
3) Carson Soucy – The big D-man scored his 3rd goal of the season and finished a plus-two.
