Kraken, Flames Throw A Shoot-out No Hitter; SEA Splits

Preseason hockey at its finest. The Flames and Kraken played a glorified game of shinny at the Climate Pledge Arena as the Flames prevailed 3-2 in a shoot-out.

Amazing how times have changed. Twenty years ago, maybe even just ten years, but to a lesser extent, we would have seen at least a couple of fights as players attempted to display their toughness and camaraderie in different ways. In the years and decades prior to that it was a rite of passage.

Cue the dinosaur sound effect, but part of that is sorely missed.

Now the boys show the coach they can play the systems, stay healthy, and try to test the goalkeepers.

Along those lines, Philipp Grubauer seemed mildly interested in the 1st period, making four saves on six shots. Can’t blame him, it was a snoozer.

Joey Daccord played the 2nd and 3rd periods.

— A bit earlier in the evening, with the other half of the split squads playing at the Saddledome in Calgary, the Kraken won 5-3. New Seattle winger Kailer Yamamoto scored twice, Tye Kartye, Will Borgen and Cale Fleury each had a goal.

The Flames makeshift line-up went just 2-for-8 on the power play on home ice, but they did win more than 56% of the overall faceoffs.

Kraken goalies Chris Driedger and Alex Stezka combined for the win.

Kraken Posts

At Climate Pledge Arena, Kraken Pierre-Edouard Bellemare rang a shot off the post in the 1st period, Jared McCann clanged the crossbar in the 2nd. The metal kept the Flames in the game and the score tied 2-2 after two periods.

The Kraken actually trailed 2-1 before Matty Beniers performed some magic to get it even. He took a pass in the slot, patiently went forehand, backhand, shelf on goalie Dan “Planet” Vladar at 12:35 of the 2nd with a power play goal.

To be fair, the hitting showed up a bit in the 3rd period with the score tied. Let’s face it, whether it’s checkers, corn hole, or of course a hockey game, these are very competitive individuals who want to get a win whenever and wherever they can. The pace and focus increased.

Notes:

— For what we believe is the 2nd time in NHL history, a female coach took her duties to the bench for a game. Jessica Campbell, an assistant with the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the American Hockey League, handled duties with Dan Bylsma, her head coach, and Dave Lowry, the associate coach for the Kraken.

Head Coach Dave Hakstol was with the other Kraken split squad in Calgary.

— What a different a Bellemare makes: While still struggling in the game in Calgary, the Kraken dominated faceoffs on home ice, winning 58% of them through regulation. The Frenchman is also considered a penalty kill specialist. The Flames went 0-for-2 on the power play while the Kraken went 1-for-3.

— Shots on goal finished 37-21 in favor of Seattle.