3/20/2025
(St. Paul, MN)
The Kraken began their penultimate road trip of the season with a split in the Midwest. A multigoal comeback against the Chicago Blackhawks instilled yet another example of Seattle’s resolve. That optimism encountered a treacherous challenge the next night against Minnesota, when three goals in under two minutes set the tone for a long night. Seattle stands ten points out of a playoff spot in the west with twelve games left in the regular season.
Seattle began their road trip in the Windy City against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Kraken tabbed the start to Joey Daccord, while Chicago called on recent trade acquisition Spencer Knight between the pipes. Chicago jumped out to an early lead in period one. Connor Bedard slung a left circle shot off Jamie Oleksiak and into the net to put the Hawks in front 1-0 at 3:46. Chicago lit the lamp again from a goal from Tyler Bertuzzi off a deflected Alex Vlasic one timer. The goal at 17:13 gave the home side a 2-0 lead. 31 seconds later, Matty Beniers fed Adam Larsson on a pass, who went top shelf on Spencer Knight to put the Kraken on the board. Chicago led 2-1 after 20 minutes. The Blackhawks led in shots on goal 15-9.
A game can tilt on its axis in a hurry. The Kraken were in search of a lifeline. That help came courtesy of their captain. Jordan Eberle parked in the slot and scorched a snap shot by Spencer Knight to tie the game at 5:55. 26 seconds later, they were at it again. Andre Burakovsky set up Jared McCann barreling left wing. McCann whistled a blast top right corner on Spencer Knight to put the Kraken in front in the blink of an eye. Seattle was far from done in the period. Matty Beniers snapped an Adam Larsson pass at 12:53 to put the Kraken up 4-2. At 15:13, Shane Wright stashed a lose puck on Knight to bookend a four goal second period. Seattle outshot Chicago in the period, 13-6.
The third period saw Shane Wright score again, this time off a one-timer to put Seattle up by four. Joey Daccord made 27 saves on 29 Blackhawk shots in the win. The win clinched the seasons series for the Kraken over Chicago.
Wednesday night witnessed the Kraken in St. Paul to face the Minnesota Wild.
Seattle’s Philipp Grubauer faced Minnesota’s Filip Gustavsson before a national television audience.
The Wild got it started early with a goal from Ryan Hartman from the slot at 2:47 to put Minnesota up 1-0. Minnesota lit the lamp again, Matt Boldy with a goal from the slot with his goal in twelve games. The goal at 3:59 put the Wild quickly up 2-0. Unfortunately for Seattle, the rain continued to pour. Liam Ohgren scored on point blank shot on Philipp Grubauer 30 seconds later at 4:29. That marked three goals in 1:42 to put the Wild up 3-0. There is the old adage that you cannot win a game in the first period, but you can certainly lose it. The three goal early hole was too much for the Kraken to overcome.
A second goal for Matt Boldy with 1:37 left in the game sealed Seattle’s fate. Filip Gustavsson recorded a 34 save shutout in a 4-0 Minnesota win. The loss has Seattle ten points out of a final playoff spot in the west. The Kraken have 12 games left in their season.
Up Next: The Kraken continue their road trip with a pair of road games in Alberta against the Oilers and Flames. The tilt with the Oilers is scheduled after 7pm with the game being played on “Hockey Night in Canada”.
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