1/2/2025
(Seattle, WA) Matty Beniers scored a goal for a third straight game, Vince Dunn scored a late goal to tie the game near the end of regulation, but in the end, the Vancouver Canucks came away with a shootout victory over the Kraken. The loss widens the gap between the Kraken and the final playoff spot in the west to seven points.
The Canucks and Kraken met on Saturday in Vancouver in one of the more wild games for the Kraken this season. Down 4-1 with five minutes left, Seattle rallied to tie the game thanks to two goals from Jaden Schwartz, before Vince Dunn won the game in overtime. Vancouver came into the evening with 42 points in the standings, six ahead of the Kraken for the final playoff berth. With the Canucks losing on Tuesday against Calgary, Thursday night was an opportune chance to jump back in the playoff picture.
Seattle struck first when Chandler Stephenson scored his fourth of the season at 1:52 of the opening period. Stephenson’s shot was able to sneak through Thatcher Demko to give the Kraken the early lead. Midway through the period, the Canucks tied the game thanks to a goal from Max Sasson at 13:17 of the 1st. The team went into the dressing room deadlocked at one apiece.
In the second period at 7:49, Conor Garland sprung free on a breakaway with a wrister past Philipp Grubauer to put the Canucks in front. Vancouver led 2-1 after 40 minutes.
In the final period, Vancouver extended their lead with a goal from Tyler Myers to put the Canucks up 3-1. But just like they did five days earlier, the Kraken rallied back.
With Seattle on a power play, Matty Beniers tallied a power play goal off a pass from Shane Wright at 9:05 of the final frame. In the closing seconds, with Philipp Grubauer pulled for the extra attacker, Vince Dunn tied the game with 53 seconds left. The Kraken salvaged a point in the standings. The Kraken hoped to earn the extra point in overtime.
After a scoreless OT, the game went into a shootout. In the skills competition, JT Miller for Vancouver scored the lone goal, to hand the Canucks the extra point.
Philipp Grubauer made 19 saves in the loss for Seattle. The tandem of Kevin Lankinen and Thatcher Demko made 24 saves with Lankinen earning the win after Demko was pulled from the game due to an injury.
Up next: The Kraken host the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday with puck drop a little after 7pm.
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