Seattle 2, Anaheim 0 After 20 Minutes
Above photo: Kraken rookies Logan Morrison and Ryan Winterton pregame.
From page 758 of the Book Of Hockey Traditions (its a big book): "Rookies about to play their first NHL game must enter for warmups first, and alone." Welcome to the Show, Logan Morrison.
Here's a reason it's always fun at a sporting event - you may see something you've never seen before.
Two minutes in, it happens to Kraken goalie Joey Daccord. In making a save on Gustav Lindstrom's slapshot, the goal stick is knocked from his grasp - and doesn't come to rest until the left wing boards halfway to the blue line!
That's not all. Play continues in the Kraken zone, but fortunately for Daccord, he isn't forced to make a save. Even when the puck clears the zone, his stick is too far away for Daccord to retrieve. More than a minute elapses before the puck mercifully skitters out of play, and Daccord can reclaim his weapon.
Bang-bang passing gives the Kraken a 1-0 lead at 7:50. From behind the Anaheim net, Matty Beniers swivels a pass to a cutting Eeli Tolvanen, who in one motion zips the puck past John Gibson for his 16th goal of the season.
Gustav Lindstrom takes Brandon Tanev down heavily at the Kraken blueline.
Sometimes, you score on the passes you don't make. On a Kraken power play, Jordan Eberle is trying to find Jaden Schwartz at the lip of the crease. It never gets there, because the puck banks off Gibson and into the net. 2-0 Seattle at 16:51.
Eberle's 299th lifetime goal gives the Kraken a 2-0 lead after 20, a period in which they outshot the Ducks, 12-4 and outhit them 12-6.