4th Line Leads Way As Kraken Blast Blackhawks; Winning Streak At Two

Kailer Yamamoto Scores Twice, Ryker Evans Two Assists; Joey Daccord Solid in Goal

Break up the Kraken! But whatever you do, don't break up the 4th line.

For the second straight game, the trio of Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Kailer Yamamoto, and Devin Shore got Seattle off to a strong start. Yamamoto had the game's first two goals.

Seattle's offense never stopped, beating the Chicago Blackhawks into submission, 7-1 Thursday at Climate Pledge Arena.

It's the third time this season the Kraken have scored at least seven goals. More importantly, they've won two in a row, and have reached double digits in wins (10-14-7).

All this made a relatively easy night for Joey Daccord, who's been solid in goal. During his last five appearances (four starts), Daccord has allowed a total of seven goals.

The Kraken so far this season are scoring nearly a goal-per-game fewer than at the same point last season. Why? A shooting percentage of 8.5%, more than three percent lower than their 2022-23 pace.

This figured to be a low-scoring affair, matching the NHL's #27 offense (Seattle, 2.57 goals per game) against #31 (Chicago, 2.36 goals per game).

For the second straight game, it's Seattle that scores first - and for the second straight game, the ice-breaker belongs to Kailer Yamamoto. Following up on a two point game Tuesday against Florida, Yamamoto's 5th gives the Kraken a 1-0 advantage, unassisted, at 3:06.

On a night when the current Kraken 4th line is off to another productive start, fans give a warm welcome back to one of last season's 4th line heroes. Ryan Donato, now a Chicago linemate of Wunderkind Connor Bedard, will also forever be the answer to a Kraken trivia question: he scored the first goal in team history.

(Note: obligatory Bedard mention completed. The Kraken hope the number of future mentions will be kept to a minimum.)

Kraken goalie Joey Daccord, coming off a shutout and starting his third consecutive contest, makes a play so unusual, it's hard to believe he's pulled it in back-to-back games. 

While prone on his belly, he feels the puck behind him, and squeezes his legs together to prevent a scoring chance.

To the best of our knowledge, half-a-goal has never been awarded to two players on the same score. If it was ever going to happen, Yamamoto and Bellemare would share this one at 17:47.

In the arena, Bellemare was announced as the goal scorer. Yamamoto went first through the Kraken bench receiving line. Turns out he was right; it's officially Yamamoto's second of the period.

What's certain is that Seattle holds a 2-0 lead after 20. Shots favored the Kraken 8-5.

Dueling breakaways within the first two minutes. Seattle's Yanni Gourde, sprung by Eeli Tolvanen, is stopped by Blackhawks netminder Arvid Soderblom. Chicago's Donato is similarly rejected by Daccord.

During a stoppage, Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn and Bedard exchange words. Friendly? Unfriendly? The world may never know.

A Kraken turnover helps Chicago get on the board. Taylor Raddysh makes it 2-1 at 3:03.

Seattle re-establishes its two goal lead 79 seconds later. Oliver Bjorkstrand tries to center to Gourde; no need. The pass deflects off the Hawks' Jason Dickinson. 3-1 Kraken at 4:22, on Bjorkstrand's 9th.

Rookie defenseman Ryker Evans earns his second NHL point, and his second assist in two games. Moments later, Evans walks in from the point and fires into the crest on Soderblom's chest. His first goal will have to wait.

The Kraken reach their magic number at 14:43. Seattle is unbeaten this season (9-0-0) when scoring four or more goals. Will Borgen sends a wrister from the right point, and Tye Kartye is in front to tip it home. Kartye's 6th, on Borgen's second assist of the night, makes it 4-1 Seattle.

The Kraken's fifth goal is the prettiest of the night (so far). Gourde feeds across the slot to Tolvanen, for his 8th of the season. 5-1 at 17:09.

Seattle dominated possession in the period; shots, too: 14-8 in the 2nd, 21-13 through 40. If this were a fight, it would have been stopped.

Seattle, already missing forwards Jaden Schwartz and Andre Burakovsky (like goalie Philipp Grubauer, on injured reserve), can't afford more personnel losses. Jared McCann is briefly felled by Connor Murphy's high stick.

McCann not only rises under his own power, he gets the best revenge. On the power play, he blasts his 14th for a 6-1 lead at 3:07. Ryker Evans earns his second apple of the evening.

Before fans at a rollicking Climate Pledge Arena can return to their seats, Bellemare joins the party 21 seconds later. This one is his for sure, his 4th of the season, builds the lead to 7-1, and occasions a change in goal for the Blackhawks.

In killing a Chicago power play, the Kraken are a perfect 17-for-17 in the last seven home games.

For the second time this season, the Kraken have a two game winning streak. They'll go for three to close out their homestand Saturday, when they welcome one of the NHL's surprise teams, the L.A. Kings.

You didn't think the Kraken were going to lose with Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder in the house, did you?