Trick Shots, Hidden Helmets, Dunn Steps Up, Blocks, Points, Milestones & More
The Seattle Kraken's wild 7-4 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets Saturday was chock full of remarkable moments, both big and small.
Here's what you may have missed, and what deserves closer examination, from the victory which extended Seattle's winning streak to a franchise-best nine games.
The win also grew the Kraken points streak to 13 (11-0-2). For good measure, they're undefeated in 2024.
Daccord Mitigates Sluggish Start
From my game story: "Within the first 3:07, Seattle is guilty of two icings, an Adam Larsson minor, and a goal against." Columbus had 16 of the game's first 17 shot attempts.
That's why even though Joey Daccord allowed an uncharacteristic four goals, several of his 30 saves were spectacular, and he fully deserved his eighth straight win.
This Trick Was A Treat
If the NHL wants to spice up the All-Star Game with trick shots, they couldn't do better than what Adam Larsson and Jordan Eberle cooked up.
Larsson's flip from his own zone easily traveled 100+ feet on the fly. In stride, Eberle catches the puck in the palm of his glove, drops it to the ice, then scores. This is so much harder than they made it look.
Milestones
Yanni Being Yanni
That's Kartye Hockey, Baby
Tye Kartye - the guy who was a minor-league 4th-liner to start last season - showed a remarkable mix of skills on his 2nd period goal. First, he fished a puck out from a faceoff and directed it to Dunn at the point.
Then, he raced to the net. In traffic, Kartye spun around so his stick was available for Dunn's shot. He maintained presence of mind and hand-eye coordination to deflect the puck.
In-Vince-Ible
Common: players on the bench banging their sticks against the boards in appreciation after a teammate's fight. Uncommon: teammates banging their sticks on the ice in appreciation while a fight is still in progress.
That's how much it meant to Larsson and Eberle that Vince Dunn immediately stepped in to fight Columbus' Cole Sillinger. Moments earlier, Sillinger had boarded Matty Beniers.
Kraken fans have bemoaned the perceived lack of response when a Kraken player appeared to be physically done wrong.
Not sure how accurate that perception of Kraken non-response is, but Dunn no doubt enhanced his reputation among the fandom and "in the room." Check out who received the "Davy Jones" hat after the game.
Shot, Shot, Shot, Post, Shot, Shot, Shot, Goal!
When Sillinger went to the box, the Kraken power play wore Columbus down to a nub. Seattle dominated possession, firing seven shots on goal, hitting the post with an eighth. That seventh SOG belonged to Kraken All-Star Oliver Bjorkstrand, a former Blue Jacket. Bjorkstrand earned the game-winner in his return to Nationwide Arena.
Full Team Effort
Ten different skaters had at least one blocked shot; the team blocked 25 shots total. Thirteen different skaters had at least one point. Multi-point nights belonged to Bjorkstrand and McCann (3), as well as Justin Schultz, Brian Dumoulin, and Gourde (2).
That points list doesn't include Andre Burakovsky, who left with an early injury, and Matty Beniers, who was held out of the 3rd period after being boarded by Sillinger. Paging Kailer Yamamoto. Paging Devin Shore. The two extra forwards traveling with the team may be needed for Seattle's next game, Monday afternoon in Pittsburgh.
