Kraken 6, Sharks 2
It certainly won’t make up for Seattle’s back-to-back losses to San Jose on November 29th and 30th, a home-and-home set of games that helped sidetrack the entire season, but it did provide plenty of smiles and a chance to celebrate for the Kraken fans on hand Thursday night at Climate Pledge Arena.
After goals by Chandler Stephenson of Seattle and Carl Grundstrom of San Jose left the game tied after 20-minutes, the Kraken broke things open in the 2nd period with consecutive goals from Oliver Bjorkstrand, Brandon Montour, Jaden Schwartz and Montour again.
The D-man’s 2nd tally came on the power play and gave the 30-year-old ten goals on the season after coming over as a free agent from the Stanley Cup winning Florida Panthers during the summer.
There wasn’t much urgency to the Sharks’ game. The club features the 1st-overall pick from the 2024 NHL Draft, Macklin Celebrini, and the franchise will have a pretty decent crack at picking first again. They have the fewest points in the NHL standings, 36.
Prior to their 2-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins three nights ago, the Sharks lost six straight games and were outscored during that span 34-17. That sounding like a football score is appropriate; they gave up a touchdown in four of the games, with opponents twice converting the extra point.
In the 3rd period, journeyman sniper Tyler Toffoli ripped home a wrister for San Jose, answered by Eeli Tolvanen of Seattle four minutes later with his 15th goal of the season.
Things get real again for the Kraken on Sunday night when they host the Calgary Flames, a team in the heart of the Western Conference playoff chase. Seattle once again moved up to four games below .500.
Earlier Kraken:
— Grubauer Waived, Time For Stezka Or Kokko To Step Up
