The Kraken and Red Wings went to overtime for their 3rd consecutive meeting and this time the Detroiters prevailed 4-3.
1st Period
Joey Daccord started in net for the Kraken, Alex Lyon for the Red Wings.
The two teams play a similar game: Heavy on the forecheck, quick with transitions, and hard working. Neither club is superstar laden, relying on that work ethic and being in the right places at the right time.
Yes, Patrick Kane was a superstar, and he’s still pretty damn good, but his health has been on and off this season. The Red Wings signed the 35-year-old, three time Stanley Cup champion (Blackhawks 2010, 2013, 2015) on November 28th after he spent the end of last season and the playoffs with the New York Rangers.
Right on cue, Kane tallied the 800th assist of his NHL career when big D-man Moritz Seider gave the Red Wings a 1-0 lead with a blast from the point at 13:30. Kraken forward Eeli Tolvanen was upset that he screened his own goalie.
Detroit had the better scoring chances in the period despite being outshot 15-6.
The Kraken picked up the equalizer in the final minute with Jared McCann ripping home a shot from the left wing circle on the power play. It went post-and-in behind Lyon. McCann has 18 points over his last 14+ games.
1-1
2nd Period
In the early going, Daccord stopped Detroit’s Andrew Copp on a brief breakaway chance (he didn’t have a lot of room to operate after catching up to the puck) at one end before Lyon robbed Brandon Tanev’s point blank knuckle-puck at the other.
At 7:18 Lucas Raymond gave Detroit its second lead, potting a rebound off a point shot. Daccord had no chance.
Undaunted, Seattle poured on some pressure in response. McCann lit the lamp for the 2nd time by banging home a rebound at 10:51.
A mostly even, hard working period took a turn with four minutes remaining when Seattle got caught on a bad partial line change. The play resulted in a 2-on-1 for Detroit and former-Kraken Daniel Sprong converting a one-timer from the right wing circle.
3-2 Detroit.
3rd Period
Detroit opened with a flurry of opportunities, operating with great diligence along the goal line on both sides of Daccord. The Kraken narrowly avoided a two-goal deficit.
Not long after, Detroit’s Joe Veleno and Copp came close to scoring six minutes in.
Seattle finally picked up a Grade-A chance and converted it on a 6-on-5 delayed penalty call. Jaden Schwartz snapped a scoring drought by firing into an half-empty net at the 7:25 mark. Lyon had fallen and was on his back.
At 15:40 Kane rang a shot off the post.
The two teams battled hard towards what looked like inevitable overtime, until Detroit D-man Olli Maatta cross checked Matty Beniers hard into the left wing boards in the Red Wings zone. Maatta went off with 1:44 remaining.
Seattle didn’t generate much with what remained of regulation, so OT it would be.
Overtime
The Red Wings killed off what remained of the penalty and quickly converted the game winner at even strength 4-on-4. D-man Ben Chiarot tallied from the slot at the 1:07 mark.
Shots on goal ended up 41-32 in favor of the Kraken. Power plays: Detroit 0-for-1, Seattle 1-for-2
Kraken 3 Stars:
1) Jared McCann – Two goals on five shots on goal.
2) Adam Larsson – Led the team in ice time and with five hits.
3) Eeli Tolvanen – No points, but a strong 200-foot game. Saved a goal defensively.
Earlier Kraken:
— Simmer’s Sunday 9: Kraken Healthy, Beniers Tumble, Red Wings Skate
