2/2/2025

(Seattle, WA)

Games are not won in the first period, but they sure can be lost. The Kraken allowed 3 goals in a four minute span in the first period, a deficit they could not recover from. The Calgary Flames hung on for a 3-2 win, denting Seattle’s effort to leap back into the playoff picture.

The Kraken came into the game coming off a 6-2 win over San Jose, with the Kraken having a two day rest since their home game on Thursday. The Flames were coming off a 3-1 defeat in the hands of the Detroit Red Wings.

Seattle broke through at the 11:03 mark of the first, when Jaden Schwartz tallied a power play goal. Calgary challenged for goaltender interference, a challenge the Flames won. Three minutes later, Morgan Frost rushed in from the high slot and scorched a shot over Joey Daccord. Frost had been acquired in the week from the Philadelphia Flyers. Minutes later, Yegor Sharangovich sifted a puck through Joey Daccord and the Flames led 2-0 at 16:43. Seattle challenged for goaltender interference. A challenge they would lose. The Flames made them pay. Jonathan Huberdeau’s 20th goal of the season on the power play at 17:56 gave the Flames a 3-0 lead.  The teams went into the dressing room with the Flames up 3-0.

The second period saw Seattle’s fourth line see several chances. The momentum would pay off when Kappo Kakko snapped a one timer from Jaden Schwartz to put the Kraken on the board. The goal came at 14:31, a tally the Kraken desperately needed. Calgary still led 3-1 at the 2nd intermission.

In the third, Brandon Tanev tipped a fluddering shot from Brandon Montour past Dan Vladar at 6:41 of the period. The Flames coming off a game the night before were reeling. Seattle outshot Calgary 11-6 in the final period. In the dying seconds, Jared McCann had a shorthanded chance to tie the game, but Calgary netminder Dan Vladar’s skate made the game saving stop.

Calgary hung on to win 3-2, with Seattle goaltender Joey Daccord recording the loss. Daccord made 32 saves, but the third period lapse was enough to sink the Kraken. Calgary’s Dan Vladar made 29 saves in the win for Calgary, and currently hold the last playoff spot in the west, ten points ahead of Seattle.

Kraken Head Coach Dan Byslma said of the first period, “I think a lot of events in that period were not how we wanted them to go”. Although the Kraken garnered momentum in the latter stages of the 2nd period, emptied the tank in the third, Calgary hung on for a critical win.

Up next:

The Kraken welcome the Detroit Red Wings into Climate Pledge Arena for the only time this regular season with the puck drop scheduled for 7pm

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