Kraken Earn One Standings Point In Loss, Fifth In Six Games
Though not listed on the calendar, Friday marked the unofficial start of "Four Point Game" season in Seattle.
By now, NHL teams have pretty much settled into one of three strata - elite, wait 'till next year, and like the Seattle Kraken, in a furious race to make the post-season. It's imperative not only that the Kraken win these contender matchups, but that playoff-hunting opponents lose.
The Blues, owners of the NHL's 27th-ranked power play, scored twice with the extra man to rally from a 3-1 deficit and force overtime.
In the extra session, Pavel Buchnevich scored his second goal to lead St. Louis to a 4-3 victory.
Seattle loses its 10th game after regulation, and closes its homestand Sunday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
1st Period
With tonight's return of Matty Beniers from injury and Yanni Gourde from suspension, the Kraken center position is back to full strength.
During a Blues power play, St. Louis lights the lamp twice. The first time was in error; Jordan Kyrou rang the left post. Seconds later, they get a PPG that counts, as Oskar Sundqvist converts Brayden Schenn's crossing pass at 7:39.
The visitors get to enjoy their advantage for 2:40. Kraken defenseman Brian Dumoulin wrists a routine shot from the far boards, which Blues goalie Jordan Binnington never sees. Dumoulin's 4th ties the game 1-1 at 10:17.
Jaden Schwartz, who played for a decade and won a Stanley Cup in St. Louis - and is playing his 700th NHL game - earns an assist.
Binnington makes two sparkling pad saves in close on Oliver Bjorkstrand to deny Seattle the lead.
Shots finish 11-5 Seattle in a fast-paced first period.
2nd Period
St. Louis' Marco Scandella gets called for an "illegal check to the head." Idle thought: what would constitute a "legal" check to the head?
The power play goal which gives Seattle a 2-1 lead should include a mention of goalie Joey Daccord. The Blues, attacking while shorthanded, are trapped when Daccord makes a save.
Seattle, with numbers, executes a pretty passing play on the rush. Oliver Borkstrand has the PPG finish at 3:55.
Amazing what a healthy roster of skilled forwards can do. The Kraken, who must have taken an extra dose of Precision Passing Vitamins at intermission, make the Blues dizzy. Like Bjorkstrand, Eeli Tolvanen snaps home his 13th at 6:42 for a 3-1 Kraken lead.
Another Kraken rush: Gourde, who played give-and-go on the third Seattle goal, fires down the slot. Binnington makes the glove save. This may be the fastest the Kraken have looked all season.
The Blues narrow the gap to 3-2 on their second PPG. Will Borgen takes a holding penalty he probably didn't need to, and Robert Thomas makes him pay at 15:01.
In the final minute, the Kraken are doing more scrambling than Waffle House. Daccord even loses his goal stick at one point. Saved by the horn, Seattle will take a 3-2 lead into the dressing room. 2nd period shots were 10-7 Kraken, 21-12 for the game.
3rd Period
Early in the season, Seattle had a propensity for building and then surrendering two goal leads. Tonight, too.
Pavel Buchnevich brings the Blues all the way back to even at 1:27. It hasn't been the easiest of evenings for the Kraken defense pairing of Borgen and Jamie Oleksiak.
With seven minutes remaining, Tye Kartye steals the puck, feeding Alex Wennberg for a testing snap shot. Binnington's right pad doesn't cooperate.
The Kraken had the better of the offense down the stretch, reflected in a 14-6 shots advantage in the period, 35-17 through regulation. But it will take overtime to decide a winner.
Overtime
Daccord makes a remarkable save on Thomas to keep the game going. But only until Pavel Buchnevich wins it for the visitors at 3:31.
