It was a very relaxed non-playoff Vancouver Canucks team hosting a Seattle Kraken club still with very much on the line.
Ultimately one team proved more determined. That would be the Kraken, 5-2 winners.
Coupled with the Calgary Flames loss at home to the Chicago Blackhawks, the magic number for the Kraken to make the playoffs is 2 points. The Nashville Predators remain a minor threat.
Martin Jones picked up the start in net for the Kraken against his hometown team, beating them for a second straight time, while Collin Delia got the nod at the other end.
There was some chatter in the Vancouver market about possible on-ice retribution for Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers for his cheap hit on Matty Beniers in late January that knocked the rookie out of the NHL All-Star Game. That expected fight never came.
Earlier in the day Seattle head coach Dave Hakstol pointed out that the team had other priorities.
Goal Scorers:
1st Period
1-0 Canucks – Even Strength – Elias Pettersson (37) from Andrei Kuzmenko and Dakota Joshua, 4:31
With a highlight reel finish, ‘Petey’ toe dragged the puck behind his back into the net while standing in the crease.
2-0 Canucks – Even Strength – Anthony Beauvillier (17) from Conor Garland and Nils Aman, 13:09
Rushing right winger Garland faked a slap shot in the right circle, froze Jones, and found Beauvillier all alone cross-ice.
2-1 Canucks / Kraken goal – Even Strength – Yanni Gourde (12) from Jesper Froden, 16:58
Delia should have stopped the snapshot from the top of the right circle through a high screen.
2nd Period
2-2 Tied / Kraken goal – Shorthanded – Brandon Tanev (16) Unassisted, 5:07
An errant Canucks slapshot rimmed around to the blueline where Tanev won the puck, rushed up the left wing, and went top shelf, shortside from the face-off circle. The Canucks gave up an NHL leading 14th shorthanded goal.
3-2 Kraken – Even Strength – Jordan Eberle (18) Unassisted, 10:40
The Kraken won a puck battle in the left wing corner and the puck squirted out to Eberle alone in front.
4-2 Kraken – Power Play – Jaden Schwartz (20) from Jordan Eberle and Daniel Sprong, 16:14
Schwartz pulled off the perfect tip just in front of Delia on a waist high shot from the point.
— Seattle outshot the Canucks 17-4 in the 2nd period.
3rd Period
5-2 Kraken – Even Strength – Matty Beniers (22) from Jared McCann, 19:00
Beniers nailed the middle of the empty net.
— Seattle outshot the Canucks 28-18 for the game. Powers plays: Seattle 1-for-4, Vancouver 0-for-5.
Kraken 3 Stars:
1) Jordan Eberle – A goal and an assist – he has more career points vs the Canucks than any other team, 39
2) Yanni Gourde – Big goal to put his team on the board. Tireless worker and leader. 3 shots on goal and 3 hits.
3) Carson Soucy – Another plus-two night.
