Kraken Have Lost All Three Games On Current Homestand; Last Win Nov. 22
Gremlins wrecked havoc inside Climate Pledge Arena Sunday even before puck drop between the Seattle Kraken and Minnesota Wild.
The soccer ball the Wild were kicking around mysteriously disappeared. Two different microphones refused to work for anthem singer Madison Stoneman, with fans helpfully singing along to a recorded instrumental version.
If anyone knows how to defeat Gremlins, please contact the Kraken, who were shut out by the Wild 3-0.
Seattle has dropped all three games so far on their six game homestand, and their losing streak now stands at eight (0-6-2). As it has been all season, lack of goal scoring proved the demon the Kraken couldn't overcome.
1st Period
Disappearing Ball Trick: During Minnesota's pregame soccer kick-around deep in the bowels of Climate Pledge... where'd it go?
With goalie Philipp Grubauer joining Jaden Schwartz and Andre Burakovsky on IR, it's Joey Daccord's Kraken net for at least the next week. Chris Driedger, recalled from Coachella Valley, is sitting second chair.
Trick shot performer Zac Bell displayed his hockey stick wizardry between periods Saturday. Perhaps Minnesota's Matty Boldy was taking notes. 1-0 Wild at 7:14, on Boldy's fifth goal in his last five games.
For the second straight game, the Kraken deposit the puck in the net and it doesn't count. Saturday, Devin Shore's tip-in was erased by an offside challenge. Tonight, a diving Tye Kartye pokes the puck between Minnesota goalie Filip Gustavsson's pads.
Unfortunately for the home team, the referee, having lost sight of the puck, blew the play dead a second earlier.
1st period shots favored Seattle 9-6, but the Kraken weren't able to convert on the game's only two power play chances.
2nd Period
The last time the Kraken scored the first goal: November 22 against San Jose.
The last time the Kraken won a game: November 22 against San Jose.
Next time the Kraken play San Jose: January 30.
Late in the period, Jordan Eberle appears to outrace Zach Bogosian, which would have negated a Kraken icing. The linesperson, with a late call, rules otherwise. Worse, Bogosian undercuts Eberle. When he falls, the teams briefly commence pushing in close quarters.
The truculence seems to energize Seattle, much as Brandon Tanev's hard check against the Lightning Saturday. The push isn't rewarded with a tying goal.
Minnesota outshoots Seattle 8-7 in the 2nd, but doesn't add to the lead on the session's only power play. Seattle leads in SOG through 40 minutes of a mostly sleepy affair, 16-14.
3rd Period
On their third power play, Jordan Eberle, with position at the crease, redirects Alex Wennberg's pass just wide of the far left post. Filip Gustavsson rejects Matty Beniers' blast, and Seattle remains scoreless.
Here's a random game GIF, because very little else is happening.
Something just happened. Kirill Kaprizov of the Wild on a clean breakaway. Daccord stones him. If the Kraken do rally... should I even bother writing the rest?
More Daccord magic: a Wild shot gently kisses the post and dances invitingly into the crease. Before Minnesota can nudge it over the goal line, the Kraken goalie - already prone on the ice - closes his pads behind him on the biscuit.
Daccord, unfortunately, isn't getting much help. Oliver Bjorkstrand, to the right of the goalie, treats the puck like a greased pig at the county fair. (I used "like a hand grenade" recently, so that's out). Minnesota's Marco Rossi gets a handle and doubles the lead to 2-0 at 12:34. They'd add an empty-netter for the 3-0 final.
