On Saturday, December 20, the Seattle Kraken closed out the season series against the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center. The two teams had one win each in their two meetings earlier in November. This match started with neither team scoring in the first period, despite the Kraken having 17 chances and the home side having 12.
It was the Kraken who broke the ice in the second period with an unassisted goal from Eeli Tolvanen. Shortly thereafter, Adam Gaudette tied the game with a power play goal. The third started with an early goal from the Sharks, but the Kraken answered back to tie the match just a minute into the match, later making substitutions. With two more goals to follow, the Kraken defeated the Sharks with a 4–2 final score, also earning the season series win.
Lindgren scores his first as Kraken
Ryan Lindgren was a newer addition to the blue line this season after the Kraken signed him on July 1 when he became a free agent. Seattle signed him to one four-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $4.5 million. To date, Lindgren’s most significant achievement has been with the team lead in penalty minutes, with a total of 39. However, he scored his first goal with the team in this match against the Sharks.
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Early in the third period, Frederick Gaudreau gained control of the puck and began skating it toward the neutral zone. William Eklund hit him into the boards and he lost control of the puck, but Chandler Stephenson regained control. He passed it across the ice to Lindgren. He skated into the faceoff circle and shot. The puck hit the top corner of the net and went in to give Seattle the lead again.
With his goal in this game, Lindgren now has five points to his name. Unfortunately, he still took a penalty in this game, allowing the Sharks to score their power play goal. In a way, Lindgren scoring his first goal makes up for it a little bit. Now if only he can stay out of the box.
Stephenson with a new career Dear
Stephenson was on a hot streak before this match, but it only increased in this match. With his assist on Lindgren’s goal, Stephenson recorded his eighth point in as many matches. However, he also scored an empty net goal, extending his streak to nine points in eight games.
This is Stephenson’s career-best point streak. Furthermore, he now has the fourth longest streak in Kraken history. Congratulations to Stephenson for this personal milestone and also for his Kraken milestone. Let’s see how long he can keep this up.
Blue line struggled
While the blue line was able to find some success in this game, there is no denying the struggles they endured as well. In the first 30 seconds of the third period, Vince Dunn and Adam Larsson were in front of Joey Daccord’s net. Colin Graf shot, and with the two defensemen in the way, the puck bounced off Larsson and crossed the goal line for the Sharks. second goal of the evening.
It was an unfortunate placement for the two defenders and ultimately cost them a goal. Fortunately, the Kraken managed to take the lead again shortly afterwards with a goal from Ryker Evans, and moments later with Lindgren’s goal. Both Evans and Lindgren are big parts of the blue line, so they’ve partially made up for Larsson’s mistake. However, they must curb these foolish mistakes to return to winning performances.
Kraken Continue down the road
The Kraken will continue to battle their way through the California teams and take on the Anaheim Ducks on Monday, December 22nd.
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