Final Buzzer: Third Straight OT Quite the Charm for Kraken

It's a good thing Dave Hakstol and his Kraken team practiced 3-on-3 overtime both Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Because after dropping an OT loss to Winnipeg Sunday, the Seattle squad won in overtime Thursday and again here Saturday with a decibel-delirious crowd roaring when Jordan Eberle scored with less than three minutes left before a shootout would occur.
Eberle's shot in OT Thursday was rammed home by teammate Justin Schultz in a scramble rebound play to beat the New York Rangers. Saturday night, rushing with Brandon Tanev on a 2-on-1, Eberle held the puck then held it some more, looked at Tanev to fake a pass and shot it past LAK goalie Cal Petersen, who deserved a better fate but lost in yet another goalie duel between the Kraken's Martin Jones and an opposing backup goaltender. The Kraken are now 8-1-1 when they score first.

Did Someone Mention Playoffs?

No one is jumping too far ahead in the Kraken locker room but Eberle did compare this past week's tight games going into overtime to playoff hockey. For a guy who stood in front of the media last year answering questions after tough losses and especially the thin line between winning and losing in the NHL, the Saturday hero is no doubt happy to talk about thrilling victories.
The Kraken are now 3-1-1 on the six-game homestand with San Jose left on the docket Wednesday and they are a franchise-best five games over the .500 mark at 10-5-3, one point behind Los Angeles for second place with three games in hand. Seattle is only six points behind first-place Vegas, who are off to a scorching start and have one game in hand. It's been a week of weeks for this group of guys and the Kraken faithful.
"I think it's important to play these games and feel comfortable," said Eberle. "That's the biggest thing. I think we're doing a better job of that. You know, once you get into the postseason, a lot of games are close. You have to feel comfortable in uncomfortable situations."
As for practicing 3-on-3 overtime situations in two mid-week practices, Dave Hakstol joked when asked about Saturday's overtime, saying "I guess all we had to figure out is just get 7 and 13 on the ice. That's the formula. I don't think it has anything to do with the practice." Winning creates a lighter mood, no doubt.

Hakstol on the OT, Beniers and Jones

There was lots to like Saturday night for the coaching staff, players, and fans alike. Hakstol weighed with a more serious answer about OT after praising Eberle and sideman/decoy Tanev. "It was a different overtime tonight," said Hakstol "We didn't have the puck a whole lot. But we defended really well. We never really gave up. We didn't give up anything threatening. We were patient and on play for the game-winning goal, Schultzy does a good job defending. We took advantage of their defenseman diving in as we punch that puck past him."
Matty Beniers was hard to ignore Saturday night despite all four lines playing effective minutes. Beniers simply plays at a high level in all zones at a 20-year-old. He got the primary assist on Jared McCann's 100th goal, set up several other high-danger scoring chances, keeps winning puck battles, draws penalties, and just missed a power play goal when his one-timer hit the post.
"He's a young guy that is playing big minutes against everybody," said Hakstol. "Matty is continuing to grow. He takes the challenge. He's a guy ready to take on every single challenge. Whether it goes well or doesn't, I've said this before, he comes back ready to take the next one on ... I think we all see it, and he's a guy that's got a real special future. "
Hakstol praised Jones and rightfully so: "The numbers are really good for Jonesy. If you look over the last eight, nine, 10 games, there's a reason that our team is growing in confidence. There is the volume of saves, right? But it's not just the volume of saves. It's the saves at the right time. Halfway through the third period, we didn't give up a whole lot, but there's a broken play in the third period that ends up on the back door, and [Jones is] there. He gets across he makes a calm, left-pad save and we're out of trouble."

Final Period Flurry

The Kraken and Kings scored just one goal apiece in the first 40 minutes of this divisional showdown at Climate Pledge Arena. In the first 53 seconds of the third period, both teams scored a goal. During a Kraken power play, LA started the sudden scoring with a shorthanded goal, then 18 seconds later the Kraken answered, still with the man-advantage.

LA forward Trevor Moore, who notched a hat trick in Edmonton Wednesday, broke free from his own blue line when Seattle defenseman Vince Dunn hesitated ever so slightly about whether to pinch in. Moore outskated Andre Burakovsky and wristed a quick forehand shot past Martin Jones.

Middle-Period Frustration

After falling behind 1-0, the Kings made an early push before LA defenseman Sean Walker was whistled for hooking. It provided the first power play of the night for either team - for only 23 seconds. Jaden Schwartz was called for a hooking penalty of his own when he prevented a Kings in-close break on goal. Schwartz did not like the call, same for the knowledgeable Climate Pledge Arena fans when the replay ran on the giant twin video boards. Dave Hakstol showed similar frustration when the ROOT SPORTS production crew showed the coach talking to assistant coach Paul McFarland and shaking his head - slightly but discernible.
Matty Beniers drew a tripping penalty with 6:40 remaining in the second period, then beat goalie Petersen on the ensuing power play only to have his one-timer shot ring off the far post (loud enough to hear on the press bridge and throughout the arena).
With 68 seconds left in the middle 20 minutes, Kings center Phillip Danault tipped in his own rebound to tie matters at one goal apiece heading to the second intermission. Danault is one of the league's best two-way centers and is renowned for his defensive play. In this case, he followed up a close-in shot and Martin Jones save by reaching over Brandon Tanev's shoulder (who was down on one knee) to bat the puck into the net. Jones finished the period with 12 saves.
It's a testament to Danault's elite skill and let's agree that Martin Jones has been making it mandatory for opponents to come up with such moves to score on him in his last 10 games.

100-Goal Man McCann

Jared McCann scored the opening goal here Saturday to raucous noise and that was before the fans heard during the goal announcement that it marked McCann's 100th NHL goal. After Los Angeles opened with a couple of quality scoring chances on Martin Jones, the Kraken forwards rolled out several strong shifts and put pressure on the Kings and goalie Cal Petersen before McCann gave Seattle the lead.
The scoring play started with Matty Beniers disrupting a Kings rush with his stick and sending a pass back to D-man Justin Schultz, who snapped a pass to Jordan Eberle who skated deep into the Kings zone and backhanded a shot on Petersen that Beniers redirected. Petersen made a quality save but the rebound went straight to McCann, who owns an elite quick shot release that paid dividends yet again for the home crowd.

McCann has seven goals on the season, including the first score in Thursday's thrilling overtime win against the New York Rangers. McCann is the Kraken's leading goal scorer and making Ron Francis look good when the Kraken GM signed him to a five-year, $25 million contract last March. McCann is the first player in the franchise to re-sign with Seattle.