For just the second time this season, Edmonton Oilers stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl decided to stretch their legs for a preseason game, and Monday night they chose the Seattle Kraken at the Climate Pledge Arena.
The visitors won 4-1.
Kraken 1st Period
After sitting out the 5-2 loss in Vancouver on Saturday night, Mr. McDavid put on a show with his well rested jets. He flew in on solo rushes often, at one point late in the 1st period almost undressing veteran NHL defenseman and 1st-year Kraken Brian Dumoulin.
For all the flying around, the Oilers captain was kept off the board in the first.
It was actually rookie French Canadian center Xavier Bourgault chipping home the rebound of a Ben Gleason shot following an Edmonton 3-on-1 rush that put the Oilers on the board first.
Three minutes later, former Oilers forward Kailer Yamamoto tucked a puck in behind goalie Jack Campbell to tie it. It was going in anyway on a shot by Jaden Schwartz that leaked through, but hockey players are taught early on to never assume anything and always make sure the puck crosses the line.
Regardless, it was a sweet moment for Yamamoto, the Spokane native and former Chiefs captain, who’s only known the Edmonton organization in his NHL career until signing with the Kraken this summer.
2nd Period
Other than a couple of tantalizing moments, the 2nd period was one of those that makes a fan yearn for the regular season. Kind of like a regular season game in late March that makes you yearn for the playoffs. All completely different levels of hockey.
It gave us a moment to confirm the Seahawks had beaten the New York football Giants 24-3.
It also means the rest of the week belongs to hockey.
Shirley, I digress.
Matty Beniers and Andre Burakovsky captured the hearts and minds on separate occasions with the stanza’s best scoring chances. Beniers on a solo rush through the left wing circle and “Burky” with a chance in close.
Meanwhile, the Edmonton superstars took the period off, other than a late shot from the right circle by Draisaitl on the power play. Believe it or not, the total shots-on-goal after two periods were 21-7 in favor of the Kraken. The visitors had three in the period.
3rd Period
“Not much flow to this one,” said a cohort in the press box with the understatement of the century.
The Kraken had a carry-over power play from the closing seconds of the 2nd period when Edmonton’s Vincent Desharnais went off for interference. Seattle would fail to capitalize despite some good looks.
That’s when number-97 had a moment. He faked high on Philipp Grubauer and shot low, going five-hole on the Kraken netminder at 2:49 of the 3rd period, even strength from the left wing circle.
At 8:21 Bourgault would light the lamp for the second time on the evening. The one-timer from the slot once again beat “Grooby” along the ice. 3-1 Oilers.
Edmonton added an empty netter.
The Kraken had a power play opportunity with seven minutes remaining and failed to click again. They finished 1-for-5. The Oilers finished 0-for-4.
Shots: Seattle 32, Edmonton 14.
Recent:
— Simmer’s Sunday 9: Kraken Line-up, Sleds, Waivers, Pod
— Bonus pod video link …
