Final Buzzer: Schultz, Jones Lead Kraken OT Win

In the sort of game the Kraken have to win to stay in the playoff hunt this season, Justin Schultz scored his second goal of the night to win in overtime, 3-2. It's the Kraken's first OT victory of the season and backs up a spectacular 28-save night from SEA goalie Martin Jones.
Schultz scored the game-winner with 81 seconds left in the game, converting on a Jordan Eberle rush. The home crowd went Seattle-worthy bonkers. The Kraken are now 9-5-3.

The Schultz OT goal was what coach Dave Hakstol called a "dirty goal," one that takes advantage of a loose puck and, in this case, a goalie not adjusting soon enough to a shot going wide and a steep angle on the opposite.
With a goalie of Igor Shesterkin's caliber (he won the Vezina Trophy for best NHL goalie last season), that's how Seattle needed to win here Thursday in a game that fans might look back at as a turning point for the positive. The Kraken prevailed even after giving up another late goal to lose a 2-1 lead for the second straight home game, in this case with 1:54 remaining.

Taking Notice of GM's July Signings

Given Martin Jones' outstanding performance and the feat of outdueling Shesterkin and an Original Six franchise loaded with offensive talent (and an Eastern Conference finalist last season), it might get lost that Jones was a first-day free agent signee for GM Ron Francis since Andre Burakovsky was the biggest name to join the Kraken that day.
But Jones is now 6-3-1 in his last 10 games and putting up top-10 save percentage numbers in that stretch. It might be hard to argue he isn't the best signing from July. But, wait a moment, Justin Schultz scored two goals here Thursday and turned in yet another solid defensive night.
His first goal gave Seattle a lead in the third period and his game-winning overtime goal (analyst Eddie Olczyk called it the "OTG-GWG") was the tonic the Kraken needed going into what is now five straight Pacific games on the schedule. Schultz said he was sending the puck net front more than shooting. It's precisely what the Kraken needed to do against Shesterkin.
So Schultz is arguably as good a signing as Jones given the results of 17 games played. Oh, but, wait, Burakovsky assisted on the third-period go-ahead goal. He now leads the team in scoring with four goals (he will heat up on the goal front) and 11 assists. His playmaking is turning heads among teammates and fans alike.
The Kraken's second goal of the game started with young defenseman Cale Fleury hurrying up a Ranger scoring attempt with Jaden Schwartz moving the loose puck up ice. Once in the offensive zone, Andre Burakovsky controlled the puck and tempo. He skated deep into the NYR zone, lapped around the net and moved a pass to fellow summer free-agent signee Justin Schultz at the right point. The veteran defenseman fired his shot past Shesterkin to thunderous noise from the home crowd.

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Late Period Disappointment

But the Schultz goal didn't hold up in regulation. On the fifth NYR power play of the night and another late penalty committed by SEA defenseman Carson Soucy, Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck scored with 1:54 remaining. It marked the second straight game the Kraken gave up a late goal to send matters to overtime.
In the 3-on-3 overtime - which the Kraken practiced both Tuesday and Wednesday this week - the Kraken looked more competitive than during the 54 seconds it took Winnipeg to win in extra time Sunday night. Seattle generated scoring attempts and played solid defensively when needed (an individual backward skating sequence by Alexander Wennberg).
"We practiced 3-on-3 yesterday and [Tuesday]," said Jared McCann afterward. "It was huge. We felt more confident going into it. We made some plays, but we were smart.
"We don't need to force it. You know, hold on to it instead [including a McCann shot he passed up because he had to shoot through two Ranger defenders]. It's puck possession. You just have to hold on to it and make the right play."

Power Play Outages

The Kraken were awarded three power plays in the second period alone. The six minutes ticked off without a score and only one shot to show for, plus one icing call.
Instead of bearing shots for the Kraken, Seattle's second power play of the night brought more chances for NYR penalty killers. Right after the man-advantage ended, Jones came up big with a save on New York defenseman K'Andre Miller to match one he made against another young, talented NYR defenseman, Adam Fox, on a shorthanded attempt.
Late second period, 2019 No. 2 overall draft pick Kaapo Kakko broke free and solo on Jones, who proceeded to make his biggest save of the night to that point. Despite Kakko coaxing to commit low on the ice, Jones extended his right leg pad and skate to close off the tuck-in attempt at the right post.

Jones Delivers in First 20 Minutes

Goalie Martin Jones turned in another strong first 20 minutes, allowing just one goal on 14 shots. The New York score was on the power play when a wide-open Mika Zibanejad scored his seventh power-play goal of the year and 10th overall. Teammate Chris Kreider set up the play, which clicked on the second of two hooking penalties called on Seattle players in the opening period.
Shortly after surrendering the goal, Jones stopped Kreider point-blank to keep the game at 1-1. Earlier, Jared McCann provided a one-goal lead via his sixth goal of the season.
Jones stood calm and in position as the Rangers spent way too much time in the Kraken zone. The period finished with 14 shots on goal for NYR and six for the Kraken.
Jones continues to make the saves expected and that is keeping Seattle in games. It's no mistake he is getting the biggest cheers from Climate Pledge Arena fans when the starting lineups are announced. The first period felt at times like it might get out of hand for the SEA squad, but Jones' work and solid companion work by Kraken skaters clearing potential rebounds and/or stifling the likes of New York superstar Artemi Panarin.

Gourde Plays in 400th Regular Season Game

Nine summers ago, Kraken forward and alternate captain Yanni Gourde sat down with his wife and high school sweetheart, Marie-Andree, for a heart-to-heart talk. They debated whether to take an offer from third-tier pro ECHL or quit the game to pursue a civil engineering degree to support the family they planned (the couple now has two young daughters). They decided to give hockey 'one more shot.'
Thursday the two-time Stanley Cup champion and every-time all-out competitor appeared in his 400th NHL game to pair with 69 postseason games, perhaps none bigger than scoring the only goal (shorthanded, of course) in Game 7 of the 2020 Eastern Conference final to propel Tampa Bay to the first of its back-to-back Cup runs.