Final Buzzer: Off to Fun Start

The 2022 portion of the Kraken's second season started with a whole lot of 22. The entire Seattle squad dressed for Monday's preseason opener skating out wearing the No. 22 on their jerseys, not to be mysterious but to raise money for the One Roof Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena.
Fitting enough - and why not consider it a good omen? - that trade acquisition Oliver Bjorkstrand will be wearing the jersey number all season and throughout his Kraken career. He wore No. 28 in Columbus, but switched to No. 22 in part because new teammate Carson Soucy dons the digits plus the more sentimental part due to his father.

"Growing up, I used 22 a lot," said Bjorkstrand. "My dad played [professional] hockey in Denmark. He was number 22. It stuck with me ... I thought 22 was a good fit."
The 22 sightings continued early in Monday's game. Bjorkstrand set up linemate Matty Beniers with a crisp net-front pass for a scoring chance that just missed. Seconds later, Bjorkstrand moved the puck to Ryan Donato for a quick shot on goal.
+ Picking up where he finished last season (9 points in his 10-game NHL debut), rookie center Matty Beniers scored the game's and Kraken preseaon's first goal. Young Finnish defenseman Peetro Seppala, signed as a free agent this summer, notched a takeaway in the neutral zone and quickly found Beniers.

The former University of Michigan and Team USA star took it from there, reaching gracefully behind him for the pass, gathering the puck and releasing a shot that rocketed past Edmonton goalie going far corner high.
+ Beniers' linemate and summer workout partner Donato made it 2-0 later second period, taking a stretch pass from goalie Joey Daccord (just subbed in for Martin Jones) and motoring into the Oilers zone. Though steered to the outside by an Edmonton defender, Donato stayed with it, falling to the ice but keeping his stick blade on the puck. Donato, signed late in the summer after not receiving a qualifying offer from the Kraken, finished a highlight-reel play by hooking stick and puck for a wraparound goal.
"It was a little disappointing at the beginning [of the summer]," said Donato in an exclusive interview before training camp. "But I always knew there was a chance I would be back here. I wanted to be back here and that was my gut feeling no matter [qualifying offer or not]. Management gave me the benefit of the doubt [last season], giving me an opportunity coming here the first time. I love the team, my teammates here, the staff, everybody from the top down."

Fans were loving Donato right back Monday night after the goal. Showing his appreciation for Daccord, who made a glove save then quickly dropped the puck to pass the puck to Donato at the red line, Donato did the usual hand-bumping at the bench before skating back to Daccord for a one-on-one glove bump. Daccord finished the night with 16 saves of his own to make it two outstanding nights and one shutout for SEA goaltenders.
+ NEWS FLASH for kids, little and big: The Kraken is saving the planned new elements for the game-presentation and entertainment show for the home opener against Vegas Oct. 15. But the preseason will unveil much-anticipated news about the Kraken mascot. A first of two teaser videos (with another due Tuesday) gave clues and in-arena announcers promised a major announcement at the Oct. 1 preseason home game versus Vancouver.
Late second period during a TV timeout, the crowd here at Climate Pledge Arena roared when a light-hearted video about three kids embarking on a mascot hunt turned revelatory when former Sonics great Detlef Schrempf "pitched" the idea of the Kraken mascot to be a kindred spirit (and/or kindred character or creature or who knows?) to Sonics beloved mascot "Squatch." In his remarks, Schrempf referenced the NBA and Sonics coming back to Seattle. The crowd roared. Check out the full video
here
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+ Free agent signee Martin Jones finished the night with 14 saves and a clean sheet. He made a big-time save late first period and another early middle period with Edmonton on the power play. After the Beniers goal, Jones kept the lead with several point-blank saves flashing reflexes and executing perfect positioning. It's early, but Jones has been clear in early interviews he wants to play his share of games. GM Ron Francis, coach Dave Hakstol and even fellow goaltender Philipp Grubauer wouldn't expect other from a veteran who has played nearly 400 NHL games and led San Jose to the 2016 Stanley Cup Final.
+ While young centers and top draft choices Matty Beniers and Shane Wright (who debuts Tuesday against Calgary) have been getting the most media attention, Morgan Geekie has quietly put together his second straight high-flying performance during training camp. Hakstol and the coaching staff have connected fan-fave Geekie with another fan favorite, the returning Brandon Tanev, and Boston free-agent wing Jesper Froden. Geekie and Tanev have worked together on the penalty-kill too, which paid dividends in Monday's third period. Tanev started a 2-on-1 break during a five-minute major on Kraken prospect Jacob Melanson, stayed patient to draw the defense, then passed cross-ice to Geekie for a one-timer too fast for a fully-stretched Oilers goalie.