On Tuesday, Jan. 27, the Seattle Kraken hosted the Washington Capitals for their second matchup of the 2025-26 season. The first game was played on Oct. 21, where the Capitals won 4-1. In this game, the Kraken came out of the gate with a strong showing, scoring three goals before Washington got on the board. They scored two more goals for a 5-1 win over the Capitals. With it, the season series ends in a tie.
McCann With a Four Point Night
The first period ended with neither team scoring; however, the Capitals took a seat in the penalty box, earning the Kraken their first power play of the night. It carried over into the second period, and the Kraken made the most of it. Jared McCann sent a one-timer towards the net, but Logan Thompson made the initial save. The rebound kicked out to Chandler Stephenson, who reset the play to Jordan Eberle near the net. He sent the puck down to McCann, who rocketed a shot past Thompson to put the Kraken on the board.
Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers and left wing Jared McCann celebrate a goal scored by McCann (Steven Bisig-Imagn Images)
Just nine minutes later, Ryan Lindgren sent a shot towards the net, but Thompson made the save. Matty Beniers was in front, and his shot was also thwarted. McCann got the secondary rebound and scored Seattle’s second of the night.
With three minutes left in the second period, McCann spotted another scoring opportunity and took a shot. It bounced off the post and went straight to Eberle, who put the puck past Thompson.
Towards the end of the game, McCann had the puck in the neutral zone and dumped it into the Kraken’s zone. Beniers picked up the loose puck and skated it right to the net to score the fifth and final goal for Seattle.
McCann had an incredible four-point game and his first multi-goal game since last season. He also scored a third goal off a strong breakaway and earned a hat trick, hats flying on the ice and everything. However, it was called off due to Beniers’ double-minor for a high-stick. This caused McCann to lose his hat trick and allowed Alexander Ovechkin to score the Capitals’ only goal of the night.
McCann also earned an assist on Ryan Winterton’s goal, which was called off for goaltender interference. If these two goals had stayed on the scoresheet, McCann would have had a six-point night.
McCann missed several games this season due to two injuries he sustained. He has played in 28 games so far and has recorded 26 points. Of course, his absence was palpable, and even though he has been back for a while now, it was highlighted in this game just how important he is to this team.
Evans Has Two Goals in Two Games
Although it feels like McCann was all over the scoresheet in this game, there were a couple of other players who got their names on there, too. There were six minutes and change left on the clock, and the Capitals took a shot, but Philipp Grubauer made the save. Frederick Gaudreau picked up the rebound and skated it into the Kraken’s zone. He passed it to Ryker Evans, who outskated the two Washington players in front of him and got right up to the net. He let a shot fly to give Seattle a three-goal lead.
Related: Wild Trading Wallstadt for O’Reilly or Wright Could Make Sense
This goal marked Evans’ second in two games and his fifth all season. He has a total of 12 points thanks to seven assists as well. He wasn’t the greatest offensive defenseman at the beginning of the season, but he has since come into his own. Head coach Lane Lambert recently changed around his defensive pairings, dropping Lindgren down to the third pairing alongside Evans. Both players put their names on the scoresheet last night. Even though Lindgren didn’t get the assist on Evans’ goal, the third pairing is beginning to gel.
Grubauer Has Stepped Up
Over the past couple of weeks, it appears Grubauer and Joey Daccord have become a 1A/1B tandem, instead of one goaltender as the main starter. It was Grubauer’s turn in net again last night, after Daccord put up a stellar performance against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday, and he did not disappoint.
Grubauer only allowed one goal on 20 shots, earning a save percentage (SV%) of .950, which is his fourth-highest SV% of the season. With his consistently strong performances, Grubauer has proven that he deserves his time in the crease just as much as Daccord. It is a great thing that the coaching staff is alternating the two goaltenders, so they don’t get overplayed. Grubauer has grown as a player this season, and he continues to prove this each time he is in the net.
Kraken Close Out the Homestand on Thursday
The Kraken will conclude their six-game homestand on Thursday, Jan. 29, when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs.
