Discombobulated and looking frustrated at times, the Kraken were gradually overwhelmed by the focused and confident Wild, losing on home ice 5-2. It’s the second time Seattle has lost at Climate Pledge Arena to Minnesota this season.
Seattle went 0-for-5 on the power play against the NHL’s 3rd worst penalty kill, while Minnesota scored twice on the man advantage.
1st Period
Marc-Andre Fleury started in net for the Wild, Joey Daccord for the Kraken.
Seattle took just :36-seconds to get on the board first. Vince Dunn went top shelf with a slapper from the point with assists to Jared McCann and Matty Beniers. McCann now with a career best 7-game point streak.
Both teams showed vigorous forechecks. Off an offensive zone faceoff win, Minnesota tied the game at 4:59. Marcus Johansson scored from the right circle on a shot that at first glance seemed Daccord should have stopped. Hard to say. Norwegian Mats Zuccarello picked up the assist.
(“Zook” would finish with 4 on the night)
With about seven minutes remaining in the period, the Kraken went down two men: A sketchy tripping call to Jaden Schwartz followed soon after by a high sticking call to Jamie Oleksiak.
Minnesota took 25-seconds to score on the 5-on-3. Kirill Kaprizov tucked one in behind Daccord. The Kraken killed off the remainder of the ensuing 5-on-4.
McCann left the game for about ten minutes for apparent concussion protocol after getting inadvertently clipped in the head, but returned in time for a Seattle power play at 16:40.
Nothing happening on the Seattle PP. Minnesota would then earn one that would carry-over for a minute-and-a-half into the 2nd period.
2-1 Wild
2nd Period
Matt Boldy is on fire. The Wild winger completed a patient Minnesota carry-over power play with a goal at the 1:09 mark. His 24th of the season and his fifth in the last six games.
Before the Kraken could catch their breath, the Wild made it 4-1 when Kaprizov cut into the left wing circle and beat Daccord top shelf at 2:14.
That ended Daccord’s night. Philipp Grubauer came in to replace him.
A Seattle power play soon after that failed.
At 6:58, Minnesota made it 5-1 as D-man Dakota Mermis was allowed to walk in and fire a shot blocker side on ‘Grubi’.
Things got chippy. Players from both sides went off in sets. That until Dunn went off for slashing at 18:10, moments after he hit the crossbar with a shot. Obviously some frustration was showing.
That was the end of the scoring in period 2.
5-1 Wild
3rd Period
Grubauer absolutely robbed Wild forward Vinni Lettieri with a pad save six minutes in. Seattle seemed to take a little momentum from it.
Jordan Eberle got a break at 6:11. His centering pass for Matty Beniers actually went in off the back of Mermis’s skate. The Kraken were down three goals.
23-seconds later Seattle earned a power play when Joel Eriksson Ek went off for high sticking.
Seattle came close but didn’t click.
The scrums and after-whistle crap heated up as time ticked away, but the result was a foregone conclusion.
Will Borgen of the Kraken fought Brandon Duhaime with 21-seconds to play.
Shots on goal ended up 33-31 in favor of the Kraken. Power plays: Minnesota 2-for-6, Seattle 0-for-5.
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken Game Day 57; Huge One Vs Wild At Climate Pledge Arena
— Seattle Kraken’s Tomas Tatar Still Has A Lot To Offer
