Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
To think the 1st period felt like it was kinda slow for the Kraken!
But first, the Highlights!
Game Notes
Your TOI Leader was Vince Dunn, who played 23:33 tonight!
The Kraken are now the kings of wild tone shifts between periods. The 1st period was a pretty sluggish affair with a bunch of penalties, and then the 2nd was a WILD overcorrection; feeling like a speedboat race, and while they did lose the lead early in the 3rd, they correctly identified that this Penguins squad was probably not up to sustained offensive pressure, and it paid big dividends tonight. I was a little spooked at the prospect of getting a lot of Sid and Gen on 3-on-3, but the Kraken played that OT to perfection. Another character win for a team with character.
Another day, another goal-against on the PK. Thankfully it was only once on 4 tries and it came late in the contest…but at this point we are getting uncomfortably comfortable with it.
Emerald City Hockey brought this up, but it really should be noted how funny it is: The Seattle Kraken have gotten 27 points in the standings this season. Of those 27 points, almost 10 of them came from games they were trailing. This team is so dramatic this year!
Philipp Grubauer had a real interesting night. He finished his night with an excellent statline; .938 SV% on 32 shots; particularly when you’re facing the Pittsburgh Penguins, is no mean feat. The goals he let in were…strange, to put it mildly. But you know what? If the worst you can say about the goals you let in were “I mean what was the plan for any of this play” and he locked in when it mattered, especially with the Pens making his night busy as hell? Grubi, you done good.
Let’s Give A Hand To…
Mason Marchment, who got two separate turnovers and chances; one of whom he cashed in on, and was a big help in getting Matty his game tying tally! Big two points from Mush!
Ryker Evans had two points tonight, both from assists! He was also one of the better D-men tonight in pushing the puck in the right direction tonight! Good on ya, Garth!
Matty Beniers got the all-important game-tying tally that got us to overtime and it was a beauty of a shot. He’s been casually one of the better Kraken consistently when it’s come to puck possession and I’m glad he’s getting rewarded for it, especially in a game this tight.
Freddy Gaudreau for drawing two Penguins to him in OT to give Monty the runway to score the OT Winner! That’s just great play recognition on his part.
Brandon Montour, who put a cannon-blast past Murashov to end it all. One of the best acquisitions this team has ever made; bar none.
Phillipp Grubauer, who while yes, absolutely gave up two very odd goals, managed to keep the door shut against a Penguins team who seems much improved record-wise when it counted and walked away the winner with a solid SV% at the end of it all.
The Charts, via NaturalStatTrick.com
No time like the present to play again! The Kraken finish their little jaunt east to the cozy confines of UBS Arena in Elmont as they face the New York Islanders. That game is bright and early at 2pm PST!
See you then, thank you for reading, and as always…
Keep Calm, and Post Zoidberg When We Win.