Seattle Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord made an impressive 35 saves as the team secured a 2-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. The Kraken’s win came after they successfully survived a challenging final 90 seconds of a 6-on-4 penalty kill against one of the NHL’s top teams.
Key Efforts Propel Kraken Past Carolina
The Seattle Kraken claimed a hard-fought victory over the Hurricanes, a team boasting the second-best record in the NHL, just behind the Colorado Avalanche. Kaapo Kakko and Ben Meyers delivered crucial goals in the second period that propelled the Kraken to the win. Meanwhile, Nikolaj Ehlers scored the lone goal for Carolina late in the same period.
This win lifts the Kraken into a playoff position, holding the No. 3 seed in the Pacific Division with five points separating them from the next teams, and 22 games remaining in the regular season. Securing this victory against such a formidable team establishes Seattle’s growing presence as a playoff contender.
Game Flow and Defensive Highlights
The match began with a scoreless but competitive opening period dominated slightly by Carolina, which held a 13-7 advantage in shots. However, the Kraken’s defense effectively contained the Hurricanes’ offensive presence, limiting dangerous opportunities despite Carolina taking 83 shot attempts compared to Seattle’s 31 over the full game. Shots on target also favored the Hurricanes 36-15, yet scoring chances were closer at 20-13.
Joey Daccord’s consistent performance was pivotal in keeping the Kraken in the game. Despite facing a heavy barrage, Daccord maintained his composure, particularly through the third period when the Hurricanes intensified their attack in an attempt to equalize.
Offensive Execution in the Second Period
The game’s offense erupted in the second frame, with the Kraken scoring their only two goals during this period. Adam Larsson played a key role by assisting on both goals, including initiating a critical two-on-one rush with Kaapo Kakko and Berkly Catton. Kakko ultimately scored by firing a precise shot through Carolina goalie Frederik Andersen’s armpit, giving the Kraken the initial lead.
“Kakko said he wanted to make the pass to Catton, but the lane was covered by Shane Ghostisbehere, so he elected to shoot.” – Kaapo Kakko, Seattle Kraken forward
A few minutes later, Seattle was on the power play following a tripping penalty against Eric Robinson. Although Carolina effectively neutralized Seattle’s initial man advantage, the Kraken extended their lead when Ben Meyers capitalized on a rebound off a pass from Freddy Gaudreau, registering the second goal.
Jacob Melanson was instrumental in the build-up to Meyers’ goal, delivering a strong hit and a breakout pass to Larsson that jumpstarted the counterattack even though Melanson himself did not record an assist.
Late Second Period Response from Carolina
Carolina finally managed to break through Seattle’s defenses near the end of the second period. Vince Dunn lost control of a loose puck in front of the Kraken’s net, allowing Nikolaj Ehlers to quickly take a shot and beat Daccord, reducing the deficit to 2-1 with just 90 seconds remaining in the period.
Seattle’s Resilience Seals the Win
The third period saw Carolina increasing pressure with 32 shot attempts, but only nine reached Daccord, who stopped each one to preserve Seattle’s lead. The Kraken’s defense limited significant scoring chances while the team maintained composure under the intense offensive push.
Eeli Tolvanen drew the Kraken’s only penalty late in the game for holding after a broken stick with 90 seconds left to play. During this critical moment, the Hurricanes pulled goalie Frederik Andersen for an extra attacker, creating a 6-on-4 advantage. Daccord stood tall once more, blocking all three shots faced to close out the game and secure the victory for Seattle.
Implications of the Victory for the Kraken
This victory against one of the NHL’s premier teams underlines Seattle’s defensive discipline and growing confidence as they push deeper into the playoff race. Holding the third seed in the Pacific Division with 22 games left gives the Kraken critical momentum for the remainder of the season. The combination of strong goaltending by Joey Daccord, opportunistic scoring, and effective penalty killing has helped Seattle set themselves apart in a competitive division.
As the Kraken continue their pursuit of a postseason berth, maintaining such resilience and performance against elite teams will be central to their aspirations. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how players like Kaapo Kakko, Ben Meyers, Adam Larsson, and Jacob Melanson can extend their impact in upcoming games.
