Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

Matty Beniers should’ve been 1st star. I don’t care.

But First, the Highlights

Game Notes

Your TOI Leader was Vince Dunn, who played 24:54.

The Hurricanes put the Kraken in the torment nexus for 60 straight minutes. They had control of the puck for nearly the entire game and it showed. BUT! The Kraken got some absolutely unbelievable luck from both impossibly foolish turnovers and a herculean shift. All they needed was Joey to be lights out, and they could’ve stolen a win. Unfortunately, that also required everybody to not make any mistakes for the final period, and as time began winding down, the vicegrip the ‘Canes had finally began to bear fruit in creating mismatches, and it was all they needed to get the game tied…and eventually the win. A real rough ending to an otherwise fun performance.

Vince Dunn took a puck off the dome (mercifully with his helmet on) and still ended up playing nearly 25 minutes. While I’m very glad he was okay, this dude seems to find new and exciting ways to get himself almost seriously hurt every other game, and I gotta be honest he’s starting to scare me about it. He’s had a real shaky season post-injury, and adding onto it with further injury is the last thing anyone needs.

Brandon Schrader and Frederick L’Ecuyer were allegedly your referees tonight, because they sure as hell didn’t show up to the game apparently. Multiple missed calls in between shifts, sometimes even on the same shift, plagued the entire game. You may as well have just played without them.

Matty Beniers had one of those nights where the stats can only tell you some of the story. Yes, like just about everyone on his line and across this team, he got absolutely caved in at even strength, but he also put in one of the most impressive shifts of the evening for the team in white.

More Berkly Catton scoring! The young man is finally starting to find a groove!

Joey Daccord did his best, man. He stopped 31 of 34 shots on goal, and if his offense could even find a crumb of support for him they might’ve been able to stretch that .912 SV% into overtime or even a win. Once the Hurricanes turned on their 6th gear, it was clear he didn’t have a prayer.

Chandler Stephenson was not available for tonight’s game due to a family matter, which according to his wife’s instagram posts suggests they’re both expecting a child. In that case? Congrats!

Thank god the rest of the Canes’ division isn’t nearly as good as this, otherwise I’d be really concerned about Monday night.

Was there anything good about this game?

Yeah, honestly there was some good stuff.

As previously mentioned, Matty Beniers flipped the script on this entire game with a transition chance of transition chances, making Jaccob Slavin look like a total mook in a scoring play. Huge play. Absolutely gigantic stuff.

Berkly Catton got his third goal of the year off of a pretty hilarious turnover by the Canes, which Ryan Winterton capitalized on and sent Berk off to the races. For a good while, this looked like it was going to be the game winner. Alas…

For much of this game, Joey Daccord was the Kraken. He finished his night with a .912 SV% and kept them in it for as long as he could. A brave effort indeed. I salute you, Joey.

Jaden Schwartz is finally healthy enough to play! He did alright!

The Chartz, Via NaturalStatTrick.com

The Kraken continue their little jaunt east with a visit to the New York Rangers on Monday night. That game is at 4pm PST.

We’ll see you there, and as always!

Keep Calm, and Post Zoidberg When We Win.