Seattle Kraken, Justin Schultz

Kraken Win OT Thriller 2-1 Over Philly, Extend Point Streak

The Seattle Kraken extended their season high point streak to eight games with a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at Climate Pledge Arena. Veteran D-man Justin Schultz, inserted back in the line-up, scored the game winner midway through the OT.

It was the 6th consecutive one-goal game for Seattle. They’re handling the pressure while creeping up the Pacific Division standings.

1st Period

Despite a limited number of shots on goal through the first 16-minutes, the goalies stood tall.

Seattle’s Joey Daccord made a big stop in the first minute on Cam Atkinson and later stoned Joel Farabee’s deke move on a breakaway. Carter Hart at the other end shut down Jordan Eberle and Matty Beniers who both had Grade-A scoring chances from the slot.

Both teams ended up with one power play. The Kraken PK shut down the Flyers PP, the 2nd worst in the NHL, with relative ease.

Later, things went south on Seattle’s lone man advantage. After an offensive zone turnover by the Kraken, the Flyers raced down the ice on a 2-on-1. Travis Konecny ended up deking his way around Daccord and found himself below the goal line by the left post. His stuff effort missed the net but went in off D-man Vince Dunn’s skate as he came back to the crease.

1-0 Flyers, with shots-on-goal in their favor, 11-5.

2nd Period

The Flyers play a strong, disciplined defensive game. Despite dominating puck possession through the first half of the period and spending a majority of that time in the offensive zone, the Kraken found it difficult to muster shots on goal. At times they were their own worst enemy, opting to make an extra pass rather than sending the puck to the net.

Part of that is because Philadelphia does such a good job getting into shot lanes. At one point with about six minutes remaining, the Kraken had an elongated shift in the offensive zone for close to 90-seconds, but ended up with just one shot-on-goal that Hart handled easily.

The two best chances for the Flyers in the 2nd period were fired wide, glove-side, at even strength.

The Flyers did pick up a power play chance at 16:13. Kraken forward Tomas Tatar played the puck while sitting on the boards in front of his bench. Yes, the extremely rare “playing the puck from the bench” penalty.

Philly did nothing with it. The two best scoring chances on the Flyers PP came to the Kraken while shorthanded.

3rd Period

The Kraken dominated the first five minutes, resulting in a Seattle power play at 5:26 when Tyson Foerster went off for hooking. It was a make-up call for a missed cross check earlier in the period.

Seattle capitalized. Dunn’s shot from the point off an offensive zone face-off win deflected in off Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler’s glove at 5:45.

A later Philly power play at 12:20, when Tye Kartye went off for tripping, came close. Daccord made a number of key saves. The penalty ended and the period marched on with the Kraken developing a few more golden chances.

Overtime

Justin Schultz snuck down low and redirected an Oliver Bjorkstrand pass to win it at 2:35 of OT.

Shots on goal finished 29-28 in favor of the Kraken. Power plays: Philadelphia 0-for-3, Seattle 1-for-2.

Kraken 3 Stars:

1) Joey Daccord – Win or lose, “The Mayor” came up big. His only goal against went in off of Dunn’s foot. 27 saves.

2) Vince Dunn – Made up for his early oops with a goal and some great defensive plays. 22:55 in ice time.

3) Alex Wennberg – Four shots, an assist, and a solid all-around performance with 19:27 in ice time. Won 66% of draws.

Recent Kraken:

— Simmer’s Holiday 9: Hot Kraken Back At It, Scotty Bowman, Lying PR

Rob Simpson

Rob Simpson has covered the NHL in five different decades. He’s authored 4 books on hockey and is a veteran TV and radio play-by-play man and reporter.