Seattle Penalty Kill Remains Perfect; Power Play Gives Up Shortie
The Seattle Kraken offense is badly in need of some varnish, because right now it can't finish.
Despite a sparkling performance in goal by Philipp Grubauer (32 saves, 2 goals against), Seattle was beaten 3-0 by Nashville in the Predators home opener Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena.
In back-to-back road losses to open the year, the Kraken have scored a grand total of one goal.
1st Period
Tye Kartye, replacing the injured Brandon Tanev on Seattle's fourth line, gets his first NHL regular season shift four minutes into the game. Picking up right where he left off in last year's playoffs, Kartye creates havoc in front on the Nashville net.
In warmups, Tye skated the traditional solo lap
A sharp-looking Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer made sure to also be chief cheerleader for his defense; stick taps for Brian Dumoulin after blocking a shot, and Jamie Oleksiak after keeping his crease clear.
Attention Marv Albert: Grubauer with a classic "kick save and a beauty" on a Cole Smith drive. Later, Smith would use his stick in a less productive way, raising it into the face of Jared McCann. While McCann grabbed Smith's stick, he wasn't granted the power play which should have resulted.
The scoreless first 20 - despite 27 combined SOG (15-12 for Nashville) - belonged to the netminders, and their version of Can You Top This.
Grubauer's stick handle deflected a dangerous Cody Glass backhander from the slot.
At the other end, Andre Burakovsky, from the inside edge of the right wing circle and what seemed like an eternity - in actuality, maybe two seconds - got robbed by Predators goalie Juuse Saros.
To start the 2nd, the Kraken will try to kill off the last 1:38 of a Brian Dumoulin slashing penalty.
2nd Period
Seven seconds after puck drop, Jamie Oleksiak lifted that puck off the ice surface. The delay of game gifted Nashville a 5-on-3 for 1:31... with two Kraken defenders in the box.
Two more fine Grubauer saves and stout penalty-killing kept the game scoreless. Even when subsequent Nashville pressure forced Larsson and d-partner Vince Dunn into a two-minute shift, the game remained scoreless.
A Kraken power play did result in a goal - by the Predators. As Colton Sissons broke in, former Pred Eeli Tolvanen failed to knock him off the puck. Sissons went forehand-to-backhand for a 1-0 lead at 10:24.
Roman Josi almost doubled the lead not long after, but this time Grubauer pushed across his crease to make a remarkable shoulder save.
He also denied a Filip Forsberg breakaway, and got a pad on a Luke Evangelista wraparound to keep the game from getting out of hand.
The Evangelista save came while the Kraken were killing a Vince Dunn cross-check. Seattle improved to 7-for-7 shorthanded on the young season.
Shots in the 2nd period favored Nashville 13-4, and 28-16 through 40. Also concerning, Seattle has won just 34% of faceoffs.
3rd Period
Burakovsky had a frustrating start to the period. First, firing wide on a 2-on-1, then taking a Colton Sissons stick to the face.
On the ensuing power play, Seattle did everything but score. 1:50 of uninterrupted zone time was foiled by four blocked shots. How long until the now 0-for-6 on the season Kraken PP gets into their heads?
On a delayed penalty, Nashville upped its lead to 2-0. Triple dismay for Larsson, who was first cut on his nose by Filip Forsberg in a corner battle. Larsson was going to be whistled for his retaliation, then had Gustav Nyquist's centering pass carom off his skate and past Grubauer at 10:03.
Unfazed, Grubauer stopped another Nashville breakaway, this one by Evangelista. The Kraken may have 99 problems, but right now, their number one goaltender isn't one of them.
Seattle pulled Grubauer for a sixth attacker with 3:31 remaining. Oliver Bjorkstrand hit the post, prior to Juuso Parssinen sealing the victory for Nashville with an empty-net goal. Final: Predators 3, Kraken 0.
Postgame
Shots in third were 7-7, 35-23 Nashville for the game. Seattle won 44% of draws.
The three game road trip concludes Saturday in St. Louis. At least the Kraken won't be playing a team with mustard-colored uniforms.
