Beniers on Yanni Gourde and switching lines 12.03.24 The Seattle Kraken pulled off a come-from behind, 5-2 win against the Utah Hockey Club Monday, improving to 17-19-2 on the season while posting their second straight victory [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/seattle-kraken/latest-news/three-key-takeaways-from-krakens-thrilling-comeback-win-over-canucks]. Here are three key takeaways from Seattle's latest win: 1. Schwartz Continues Hot Streak, Powers Kraken To Victory Left winger Jaden Schwartz generated a goal and two assists in Monday's win, giving him three goals and five points in his last two games [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/seattle-kraken/latest-news/three-key-takeaways-from-krakens-thrilling-comeback-win-over-canucks]. The 32-year-old now has 12 goals and 25 points in 38 games this season, putting him on pace to put up 26 goals and 54 points in 82 games this season -- a goal total that would be the second-best of his career, slightly less than the 28 goals he scored for St. Louis in 2014-15. Schwartz can't be expected to produce at the rate he's produced in the past two games, but so long as he chips in regularly with some type of offense, the Kraken are going to be a tougher team to beat. They need scoring from throughout the lineup, but when that offense comes from a veteran contributor like Schwartz, it takes pressure off the rest of the roster. And that was certainly true of the Kraken's win on Monday. 2. Kakko Comes Up With First Multi-Point Game As A Kraken Right winger Kaapo Kakko posted two primary assists Monday, giving him 12 helpers and 17 points on the season. That puts the 23-year-old on pace to generate 26 assists and 37 points in 76 games this season. And that would be the second-best single-season points total of his career, behind only his 40-point season from 2022-23 The Finnish native is still a work-in-progress, but considering he now has a goal and three points in his past three games, Kakko is making Kraken GM Ron Francis happy he acquired him from the New York Rangers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/seattle-kraken/latest-news/kraken-hit-home-run-with-acquisition-of-former-new-york-rangers-young-star-kakko]. Kakko doesn't have to lead the league, or his team in points, but he's making the most of his opportunities thus far, and that's good enough for Seattle brass. 3. Balanced Scoring From Throughout Lineup Pays Off With Major Win Over Utah The Kraken got goals from five different players Monday, including markers from Schwartz, Yanni Gourde, Andre Burakovsky, Matty Beniers, and Jared McCann. That balance is very encouraging for Seattle, as it shows what the team can do when it's firing on all cylinders. Beniers in particular was especially positive for the Kraken, as it was his second goal in as many games, and his sixth goal on the season. If Seattle is going to get back into the playoff picture in the Pacific Division -- and they're now five standings points behind Calgary for fifth place in the division, and they're now six points behind Vancouver for the second and final wild card berth -- they're going to need Beniers to ratchet up his offense totals. But other than that, there wasn't much to complain about in this Kraken win. The team did its job at both ends of the ice, and they're now in position to continue a solid little win streak to help them get back in the playoff mix.
