Seattle Victory Streak Grows To Seven, Points Streak To 11
The Seattle Kraken and Buffalo Sabres played the first half of Tuesday's game like the new year was 1984, when offense was king and everyone was entertained except goaltenders.
Lots of shots, lots of grade-A chances, back-and-forth scoring.
Then the teams remembered it was a more defensively-responsible 2024. When it was over at KeyBank Center, the Kraken had pulled away from the Sabres, 5-2.
That's Seattle's seventh straight win, one short of tying a franchise record, and 11 in a row with at least a point (9-0-2).
Jaden Schwartz, playing his first game back in the Kraken lineup since Nov. 28, led with a goal and an assist. Other multi-point scorers included Eeli Tolvanen and Will Borgen.
Kraken goalie Joey Daccord made 36 saves, including a couple of Sabres breakaways, to extend his own personal streak to 8-0-2.
1st Period
Eric Robinson is the latest to find out that against Kraken goalie Joey Daccord, a clear lane to the goal won't mean scoring a goal. Daccord also makes a fine toe pad save on JJ Peterka and absorbs Jeff Skinner's drive.
However, a patient Skinner gets the best of the Kraken to give Buffalo a 1-0 lead at 4:57, his team-leading 17th goal.
Before the period is half over, the Sabres have 16 SOG. Buffalo's not only pounding the puck; Connor Clifton pounds Oliver Bjorkstrand into the side boards.
Effective but painful shift for Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn. Slow to rise after blocking a Jordan Greenway shot, Dunn still puts two punishing checks on Zach Benson. When the shift is over, Dunn heads to the dressing room for repairs.
Yanni Gourde scores in his third consecutive game to tie the score for the Kraken, 1-1. Bjorkstrand's shot is saved, Tolvanen's rebound is saved, but third time's the charm for Gourde - his 7th comes at 13:55.
Missed chances: Moments before the tying goal, Buffalo's Peterka hit the goalpost; Tomas Tatar breakaway stopped by Levi; Alex Tuch shorthanded breakaway stopped by Daccord.
Seattle had connected on just two of its last 17 power plays, but when Henri Jokiharju is called for slashing Tatar, Vince Dunn makes him pay at 18:50.
Wasn't that the same Vince Dunn who missed shifts after a shot block earlier in the period? Yes, yes it is. For Dunn, his 5th goal and 15th point in his last 15 games.
2nd Period
34 combined SOG in the 1st period - 19 by Buffalo, but only two in the final seven minutes. Not coincidentally, the Kraken scored their two goals in the final seven minutes. Both were assisted by Tolvanen.
Buffalo's Skinner has his own multi-point game when his beautiful pass is tipped home by Tuch to re-tie the game 2-2, 50 seconds into the period.
Another breakaway. Alex Wennberg converts at 2:08 and Seattle leads again, 3-2. Levi slows down the shot, but not enough.
Jaden Schwartz, who alertly fed Wennberg, picks up an assist in his first game back for the Kraken after missing the last 16 with an injury.
More Schwartz: Brandon Tanev tips Will Borgen's slapper, then Schwartz tips Tanev's tip, and the Kraken extend their advantage to 4-2 at11:34.
The Sabres' Casey Mittelstadt, skating left to right across the low slot, fires a backhand through traffic which Daccord gobbles up with his glove.
The Kraken pour it on. Matty Beniers powers a wrister past Levi for a 5-2 cushion. Beniers' roommate, defenseman Will Borgen, picks up the primary assist, his second apple tonight.
Buffalo defender Rasmus Dahlin breaks his stick in two, slamming it in frustration on the goal cage. Beniers momentarily looks back and flinches, smiling all the while.
There's a bunch of empty seats at KeyBank Center. Those in attendance serenade the Sabres with boos as the 2nd period ends.
3rd Period
Defenseman Jamie Oleksiak, Seattle's shot-blocking machine, makes a key rejection of Skinner's drive on a Sabres power play. It's Oleksiak's team-leading 95th block in game 40 of the season.
For the ninth time in his last 10 starts, Kraken goalie Daccord allowed two or fewer goals.
