10/2/2024 (Seattle, WA)
It is not how you start, but how you finish. The preseason for the Seattle Kraken finished on a high note scoring a preseason high six goals including two from Shane Wright in a 6-2 victory.
The Kraken came into the night with a preseason record of (1-3-1). The final preseason game tends to show the closest lineup from a regular season roster.
For the first time in the preseason the Oilers dressed both their two superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl with hopes to be geared up for another record setting season.
Jared McCann was a late scratch for precautionary purposes, with it being the last preseason game, the veteran utilized a valuable rest night before the regular season ensued.
The first period showcased superb goaltending from Philipp Grubauer stopping all eight Oilers shots on goal. Edmonton’s Olivier Rodrigue stopped all seven shots he saw.
It took 5:52 into the 2nd before the Kraken got on the board when Ryker Evans fired a shot from the left circle tipped by Brandon Tanev past Oilers goaltender Olivier Rodrigue to put Seattle up 1-0.
The Kraken were at it again when Shane Wright crafted a backhander breakaway with a spin’o’rama off a feed from Oilver Bjorkstrand at 7:47 of the period.
The Oilers went on a 5 on 3 power play midway through the 2nd period, after Seattle killed off the first power play, Leon Draisaitl found the back of the net to cut the deficit to one.
It was only a matter of time before the Oilers offensive juggernaut would answer again, Draisaitl found an open Travis Dermott to knot up the game at 13:04.
The Kraken countered near the end of the period when Brandon Montour cranked up a slap shot on a rush off a lead pass from John Hayden to restore the Seattle lead.
The Kraken weren’t done, Shane Wright added his 2nd goal 33 seconds later at 19:03 of the second period.
Edmonton outshot Seattle 15-5 in the 2nd period.
The third period saw Seattle tack on two goals the first from Jaden Schwartz at 14:48 and Will Borgen at 17:08.
The star of the night was Shane Wright who finished with two goals including the highlight first goal in the second period.
Three other Kraken had a goal and a helper including Brandon Tanev, Brandon Montour, and Will Borgen who had two helpers in addition to his goal.
Philipp Grubauer was fantastic in goal for Seattle making 28 saves on 30 shots, while Edmonton’s Olivier Rodrigue stopped 18 of 24 Seattle shots on goal.
The Kraken finish the preseason with a record of (2-3-1) where they await the season opener against the St. Louis Blues one week away at 1:30 PST.
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