\u201cOn the game as a whole, in 5-on-5 play, the Kraken generated 43.8 percent of all shot volume but 57 percent of all shot quality. In regulation, the first period was the team\u2019s strongest in each metric.\u201d<\/p>\n
And that doesn\u2019t even include overtime, where the Kraken clearly built on that shot-quality advantage.<\/p>\n
Speaking of overtime\u2026 let\u2019s relive that winner that was buried with just 3.4 seconds left on the clock.<\/p>\n
MCCANN CAN! \ud83d\udea8 <\/p>\n
WITH 3 SECONDS LEFT IN OT, JARED MCCANN WINS IT! #SeaKraken<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/y38BJQvz5A<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) October 12, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Power play progress<\/p>\n The Kraken have one power-play goal in five opportunities, not a big sample size, but there\u2019s plenty to like so far. They\u2019re working the puck below the goal line more, setting up options in the slot, and finding cross-ice seams for dangerous looks.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a look at the power-play time on ice so far:<\/p>\n Chandler Stephenson is logging heavy minutes while Kaapo Kakko remains out of the lineup. One name missing from the mix, though, is Jani Nyman, who was used in the one-timer spot late last season.<\/p>\n Other musings<\/p>\n The Kraken\u2019s win over the Anaheim Ducks marked their 10th all-time victory against Anaheim, the most they\u2019ve recorded against any opponent.<\/p>\n Conversely, heading into the Vegas game, the Kraken were just 3\u201311\u20131 all-time against the Golden Knights. But over the past three seasons, Seattle has flipped that script, going 3\u20130\u20131 against Vegas, including that memorable first-ever win at the Winter Classic.<\/p>\n The Kraken scored first in both games to open the season. That\u2019s notable, considering they struck first in just 43 percent of their games last year, the third-lowest rate in the league. They also won less than 30 percent of the games in which they gave up the first goal, so playing from ahead is huge.<\/p>\n I\u2019d really like to see Shane Wright get going on this upcoming road trip through eastern Canada. The opportunity is there, and a little momentum early could do wonders for him.<\/p>\n The ice has felt tilted in Seattle\u2019s favor whenever the Jared McCann-Matty Beniers-Jordan Eberle line has been on together. That trio looks sharp and seems to be finding its rhythm again.<\/p>\n Ryan Winterton has also really impressed me through two games. He\u2019s been noticeable breaking up plays and playing a strong two-way game. The coaching staff clearly trusts him too, as he didn\u2019t miss a shift in the third period of the Vegas game.<\/p>\n On the flip side, Jani Nyman has averaged just 8:14 of ice time with no power-play minutes over the first two games. It\u2019s not anything to panic about, but it\u2019s quite a contrast from last season, when he averaged 14 minutes a night and played in almost half of Seattle\u2019s power-play opportunities during his 12-game stint.<\/p>\n I\u2019m also glad to see the Kraken organization welcome Joel Quenneville back to the league in the right way.<\/p>\n As much of a slog as that third period was against Vegas, that\u2019s probably the kind of grind-it-out hockey the Kraken will need to play to beat elite, high-skill teams.<\/p>\n Overseas, 2025 seventh-round pick Loke Krantz<\/a> made his SHL debut for Link\u00f6ping HC and notched an assist in his first game.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, down in the desert, the Coachella Valley Firebirds got off to a rough start, dropping their home opener 5\u20130 to the San Diego Gulls. It could be a challenging season ahead for the Firebirds; they\u2019re one of the youngest teams in the AHL<\/a>.<\/p>\n Goal of the week<\/p>\n There were plenty to choose from with the Kraken this week, but this whole sequence was just too good to pass up.<\/p>\n always bet on beniers \ud83d\ude4c pic.twitter.com\/zLMSIJxeMi<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) October 12, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Player performances<\/p>\n Matty Beniers (SEA) \u2013 Has a goal and two assists on the Kraken\u2019s four goals so far this season.<\/p>\n Joey Daccord (SEA) \u2013 Sporting a .968 save percentage through the Kraken\u2019s first two games and came up big in key moments of both. According to MoneyPuck.com, he ranks fifth in the league in Goals Saved Above Expected.<\/p>\n Jake O\u2019Brien (BFD\/SEA) \u2013 The Kraken\u2019s first-round pick in the 2025 draft exploded for four goals and four assists in two games over the weekend.<\/p>\n The week ahead<\/p>\n The Kraken hit the road for a six-game road trip, starting Tuesday in Montreal for the Canadiens\u2019 home opener. When the schedule came out this summer, this stretch jumped out as a tough early-season test, especially with players learning new systems under a new coaching staff.<\/p>\n Getting two wins at home probably helped accelerate the buy-in from the group which should be valuable heading out on the road. This week, Seattle faces Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto. It\u2019s still tough to gauge how good any of these teams really are and all three of these opponents already have losses. I\u2019d be fine with three points out of a possible six, though four sure would feel nice.<\/p>\n What I\u2019m watching:<\/p>\n Goaltending: Joey Daccord has started the first two games, but it\u2019s hard to imagine the team wants him playing all three this week while Philipp Grubauer and Matt Murray gather dust.<\/p>\n Berkly Catton: I\u2019m guessing Catton gets into a game after being a healthy scratch for the first two at home. I don\u2019t mind the scratches, but you\u2019d think he gets a look soon. Not sure if it means anything, but Beniers, Wright, and Winterton all made their NHL debuts on the road.<\/p>\n This trip should be another solid test for the Kraken. As I mentioned during the Kraken Roundtable<\/a>, I just want to see them compete and be in every game.<\/p>\n Final thoughts<\/p>\n It\u2019s early, but the vibes around the Kraken feel good \u2014 structure, effort, and a couple of new faces already making an impact. There\u2019s still plenty to clean up, but two wins out of the gate and some promising trends under Lane Lambert? You\u2019ll take that every time.<\/p>\n \t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1760377150_583_image-2.png\")
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