Kraken 5, Utah Hockey Club 2
Seattle book-ended strong first and third periods around a Utah surge in the 2nd, to pick up their second consecutive victory, a 5-2 win over the Utah Hockey Club at Climate Pledge Arena. It was Seattle’s first ever game against the relocated Arizona Coyotes.
Logan Cooley opened the scoring for the visitors at 8:41 of the 1st period, but the home club was undaunted.
Seattle looked like a more confident squad after Saturday’s mini-miracle in Vancouver that saw the Kraken come back from down 4-1 with the less then five minutes to play to beat the Canucks in overtime 5-4.
It was a feisty 1st period on Monday night and the Kraken gained a bit of motivation from the physicality. Defending home ice involves winning battles and never backing down. Pesky and patient would describe it, as a strong finish to the 1st period ended with a 2-1 lead.
Yanni Gourde scored at 18:06 with Andre Burakovsky tallying 51-seconds later.
After Seattle outshot Utah 16-5 in the 1st period, the visitors turned the tables in the 2nd, tilting the ice to a 17-7 shots-on-goal advantage the other way. Alex Kerfoot tied the game at 19:01.
In the 3rd period the Kraken were relentless and opportunistic. Jaden Schwartz posted a three-p0int night including the game-winning goal on a breakaway at 7:22. He’s clearly been the Seattle MVP over the two victories.
Less than four minutes later Matty Beniers scored for the 2nd consecutive game to put it away. His goal on Saturday snapped a 19-game goalless streak. Despite Monday night’s marker being a bit of a fluke from below the goal line, he’s another Seattle skater who appears to have his confidence back.
Seattle newcomer Kaako Kakko had the primary assist on both of those 3rd period goals.
Jared McCann added an empty-netter with 1:48 remaining.
Seattle hosts Vancouver on Thursday.
