DETROIT – Few were likely thinking of Freddy Gaudreau when conjuring up names of any Kraken player who could rescue the team from what seemed another night of impending offensive doom.
They had just fallen behind by a goal and were being outshot 23-6 a few minutes into Friday night’s second period when Gaudreau reminded everyone that he’d once scored 18 for Minnesota a mere couple of seasons ago. The veteran fourth line centerman slotted home a Ryan Winterton pass from behind the net for his first of two in short order to ignite the Kraken for three goals in just over three minutes of an eventual 6-3 comeback win over the Detroit Red Wings.
Mackie Samoskevich put the Kraken ahead to stay just two minutes after Gaudreau’s tying strike, jamming home a puck after Jared McCann had thrown it out front to him from behind the net. Then, only 65 seconds after that, Gaudreau took another Winterton pass, waltzed on through the left faceoff circle and did a toe-drag at the dot before wristing a puck in behind Gibson for his second goal of the game.
That made it 4-2 on only 10 Kraken shots, leading the Little Caeser’s Arena faithful to voice their displeasure with Gibson from there anytime he handled a puck without it going in the net. That didn’t last much longer, mind you, as Ben Meyers, who had a three-point night, stepped out of the penalty box, raced down the right side and beat Gibson top shelf for a three-goal Kraken lead and the end of the goalie’s night.
Vince Dunn would add a power play marker in the final period as the Kraken won for the first time in three years in this building and for the only time ever in regulation here. They improved to 3-2-0 on the season in the opening leg of a five-city road trip that sees them play the Washington Capitals on Sunday.
Without Gibson to pick on any more, chants of “Sell! The! Team!” erupted in the final minute of the middle period with the Red Wings still dealing with finding a permanent replacement for general manager Steve Yzerman after seven non-playoff seasons. Detroit is also in a contract dispute with young defensive standout Simon Edvinsson, who has headed back to his native Sweden, and still dealing with the off-season trade demand of star center Dylan Larkin – who was stripped of his captaincy.
It’s not like the Kraken started the game with any type of fire. They were fortunate to get out of the opening period tied as Berkly Catton had scored an equalizer with a nifty backhand move on Gibson when sent in alone.
The veteran netminder would leave the game with the five goals allowed on only 14 shots.
Meanwhile, down at the Kraken end of the ice, goalie Philipp Grubauer had been at his acrobatic best just to keep the visitors in the game. They were outshot 17-5 in the opening period and only Grubauer kept Detroit’s goal total from spiraling out of control with several tough kick saves – many of them in close on rebound attempts.
Grubauer failed to corral an incoming Lucas Raymond shot on a Detroit power play that trickled through the goalie’s pads and lay in the crease for Viktor Arvidsson to stuff home. After that, though, he made 38 saves on the night and didn’t give the home team much.
Detroit briefly regained the lead four minutes into the middle period when William Wallinder deflected home a shot by Alex DeBrincat for the first goal of his NHL career. But then the Kraken woke up and the roof caved in on the Red Wings just 39 seconds later when Winterton fed Gaudreau out front.
Gaudreau is known for his forechecking and stellar defense, especially as a penalty killer. But in addition to scoring 18 goals his final season in Minnesota ahead of the Kraken trading for him in June 2025, Gaudreau also once had 19 goals for the Wild in 2022-23 to earn himself a multi-year extension.
With three goals already this season, having also scored in the season opener in Calgary, Gaudreau at age 33 helped the fourth line provide some needed offensive balance in this one. The Kraken had looked lifeless offensively for two plus periods against Vegas on Tuesday night and weren’t doing much the opening frame of this game before Kraken broke through and then Gaudreau stepped up.
