Ducks Rough Kraken in Physical Duel

11/27/2024

(Seattle, WA) The Kraken ran into a red hot John Gibson who made 43 saves while five different Anaheim Ducks found the back of the net. Although the Kraken found goals from Oliver Bjorkstrand and Eeli Tolvanen, it was not enough. The Ducks outlasted Seattle 5-2. The Kraken dropped their record to 11-11-1 as American thanksgiving arrives.

Seattle won the first game of their mini-series in Anaheim with a come from behind 3-2 win. Joey Daccord again earned the start for the Kraken after a victorious 21 save effort Monday night. The Ducks turned to John Gibson in their crease after Lukas Dostal started on Monday.

The Ducks ramped up the intensity in the first period outhitting Seattle 16-7. Their physical style was rewarded at 8:23 when Frank Vatrano scored on a turnaround shot, to put the Ducks up 1-0. Anaheim mounted a two goal edge after Brett Leason fired a shot that squeaked though Joey Daccord to give Anaheim a 2-0 at 12:43 of the opening frame.

With the Ducks handing Seattle an early deficit, at 16:34 of the first period, Eeli Tolvanen scored his first goal in eleven games with a roof shot on Ducks goaltender John Gibson. The goal gave Seattle momentum heading into the dressing room.

Seattle outshot Anaheim 15-13 in the first period, but trailed where it mattered 2-1. The pace was fast with the Kraken generating multiple chances, with Tolvanen’s marker the only tally for Seattle.

The second period began with the Kraken drawing level with the Ducks. Oliver Bjorkstrand roofed a blast from the slot on a pass from Shane Wright to tie the game at 8:58. Unfortunately for Seattle the lead did not last long.

Sixty four seconds later, Alex Killorn answered for Anaheim with a quick wrister past Joey Daccord to put the Ducks up 3-2. Anaheim restored their two goal lead when Cutter Gauthier throttled a power play goal with 37 seconds left in the period. Unlike the first intermission, it was Anaheim stealing the mojo heading into the break.

Both teams fired ten shots on goal in the second period.

The Ducks added a fifth goal at 13:55 of the third from Trevor Zegras to go up 5-2.

A skirmish broke out at 15:00 of the third with Ross Johnston and Tye Kartye tabbed with roughing penalties. The Kraken pulled Joey Daccord to set up a defacto 6 on 4. The Kraken weren’t able to score with Daccord pulled.

The Ducks defeated the Kraken 5-2 to split the home and home series. Seattle will face the Ducks again January 28th in Seattle.

John Gibson recorded the win making 42 saves on a staggering 44 Seattle shots on goal. Joey Daccord made 28 saves on 33 shots in the defeat.

Seattle’s power play went 0 for 5, unable to generate on their man advantages opportunities. The Kraken additionally were outhit by the Ducks 34-21. In the losing effort, Seattle won the battle of the faceoff dot winning 62% of the draws.

Head Coach Dan Bylsma noted postgame, “I thought they were a little harder on the walls and a little harder on the net and the first goal is a result of that.” Bylsma mentioned the Duck’s third goal from Alex Killorn was a massive turning point in the game. Bylsma reemphasized how the Ducks played more aggressive than they were.

The Kraken head into American thanksgiving two points behind the Vancouver Canucks for the final playoff spot.

Up Next: After celebrating thanksgiving the Kraken visit the San Jose Sharks for a Black Friday afternoon matinee with puck drop at 12:30 pm. The Kraken head again home to face the Sharks Saturday night with puck drop scheduled a little after 7pm.