The Kraken simply outworked the Rangers in winning 7-5 on Sunday afternoon in New York, picking up the franchise’s first ever victory at Madison Square Garden.
It was also Seattle’s first ever win in regulation anywhere against the Broadway Blueshirts.
What a turnaround. When New York took a 3-1 lead on Vince Trocheck’s goal at the 4:47 mark of the 2nd period, things looked dire. The Kraken seemed flat and goaltender Philipp Grubauer was struggling. ‘Grubi’ snapped back, as did his club, as the 2nd period progressed.
“Turbo” Brandon Tanev inspired the comeback, yelling at his teammates along the bench midway through the 2nd period. He put his money where his mouth is, scoring the next goal of the game at 14:06 of the 2nd to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Eeli Tolvanen, with a wrist shot from the high slot, and Oliver Bjorkstrand, with a deflection in front for his second goal of the game, gave the Kraken their first lead of the day before the period was over.
Vince Dunn extended the lead with a wicked slapper off the post and in, exactly one-minute into the 3rd.
Grubauer survived an early onslaught despite giving up a soft goal in the first and misplaying a carom off the endboards in the second. Soon after, he made big save after big save to keep his club in it.
There was concern Grubi might leave the game in the 1st-period after he was run into by Rangers forward Filip Chytil, but he had no choice. Because of an illness to Kraken netminder Joey Daccord, Seattle was forced to sign emergency back-up Michael Matyas, a former college goalie. Matyas sat on the bench, chewing his gum hard, particularly after seeing Grubauer go down. He was relieved as anyone that the German netminder hung in there, and the Kraken ended up thankful as well.
Shane Wright extended the Seattle lead with a dandy tip-in while going hard to the net at 11:13 of the 3rd period. The rookie finished with a goal and an assist. Bjorkstrand tallied two goals and two assists.
K’ Aandre Miller scored at 12:29 of the 3rd period to get the crowd back in it. The Rangers tallied with 5:02 remaining, Alexis Lafreniere down low, to make it a one-goal game.
Yanni Gourde scored an empty netter to put the game away.
