Final Buzzer: Can You Dig It?

The Kraken dug an early hole for themselves Sunday night, giving up a goal mid-first period and finishing the opening period down 1-0. But then Seattle dug right back, tying the game at 1-1 and then again at 2-2 before Seattle's leading goal scorer, Jared McCann, gathered a loose puck with four-and-a-half minutes remaining in the third period, deploying his signature quick-release shot to beat Winnipeg goalie David Rittich to make it a 3-2 final.

"I work on it a lot and usually go far side," said McCann. "I thought it would work to go short side tonight."
Decibels bounced every acoustic panel and baffle in Climate Pledge Arena with an extra boost when it was announced as McCann's 14th goal of the season. Impressively, the Kraken didn't stop the aggressive offensive push, controlling the play for a good three minutes before Winnipeg could muster a sustained visit in the Kraken zone.

Sweet 16 Seconds: Anatomy of a Tying Goal

The Kraken needed the first goal in the third period to avoid a two-goal lead for Winnipeg, who has the personnel and veteran group to effectively go into shutdown mode. Seattle forward Ryan Donato delivered what his teammates needed, deflecting a long shot from linemate Yanni Gourde for his sixth goal of the year and third in the last three games (one each). New-as-of-Sunday linemate Andre Burakovsky got the secondary assist for his 28th point in 30 games wearing a Kraken uniform.

It's worth taking a closer look at the Donato goal. The play actually started with Burakovsky moving the puck deep into the WPG zone. For his part, Gourde patiently held the puck near the right point and faked a pass to an awaiting Will Borgen (who is playing consistently superb hockey lately on both ends of the rink). Borgen obliged by posing into a backswing, but Gourde instead zipped the puck net-front and airborne. Donato deflected the puck to finish a satisfying sequence.

Flipping the Script

Nearly halfway through Sunday's game, the action here equated to a buttoned-up hockey game. The Kraken were outshooting the visiting Jets, 14-4, generating several solid scoring chances but Winnipeg was leading 1-0.
Then the script went into a full costume change. Both teams started gaining possession time in the offensive zone and put the goalies to work. With under 12 minutes remaining in the middle period, Seattle evened matters at one goal apiece when D-man Adam Larsson showed off his underrated offensive skill set by wiring a pass to Jordan Eberle from the right point inside the blue line to the top of the left faceoff circle.
Eberle took the puck on his right forehand, spun to shoot on the backhand, and roofed the puck past the mask of Winnipeg goalie David Rittich just inside the crossbar. It's Eberle's eighth goal of the season.

Grubauer Holds Serve

By the end of the second period, the shots on goal totals were 22 for the Kraken and 15 for Winnipeg. The Jets broke through on a power play goal (Will Borgen went off for a holding-the-stick penalty) to make it 2-1 but SEA goalie Philipp Grubauer made two big stops to make it a one-goal game going into the final 20 minutes.
One of those saves was against Adam Lowry (son of Kraken assistant coach Dave Lowry) on a one-timer in the high slot, choice territory for a shooter. With two-and-a-half minutes left in the period, Winnipeg forward Kevin Stenlund was all alone in front of Grubauer, but the affectionately-called German Gentleman swallowed up the attempt and the holiday crowd was appreciative with the round of "Gruuuuuuuuu!"
Six minutes into the third period, Grubauer made one more big stop. Winnipeg forward Kyle Connor, with a red-hot 19 points in his last 13 games coming into Sunday, was alone net front and couldn't get the puck past the Seattle goalie, who held his positioning. Grubauer finished the night with 15 saves. Teammate Ryan Donato made it clear "Grubi kept us in the game" until the offensive efforts paid dividends and two more standings points. The Kraken are now 17-10-3 with 35 points, just two points behind Los Angeles with four games in hand.

For Openers

Winnipeg struck first here Sunday during a 5-on-3 power play in the opening period when defensive partners Vince Dunn and Adam Larsson were whistled off within 46 seconds of each other. Jets leading scorer Mark Scheifele scored 10 seconds in the two-man advantage situation to make it 1-0 eight-plus minutes in the game. The Kraken penalty killers delivered a clean sheet on the remaining 1 minute and 50 seconds on Larsson's penalty.

Kuhlman Flying 'First' on Jets

Karson Kuhlman proved a solid performer for the Kraken, playing on third and fourth lines plus contributing on the penalty kill (including some great runs with Yanni Gourde as the two forwards up front). When the Kraken decided to claim former Nashville forward Eeli Tolvanen earlier this week, Kuhlman was the player placed on waivers. Kuhlman played 15 games for Seattle, notching a goal and two assists. Media reports revealed the Jets were interested in Kuhlman last season when Seattle claimed him.
Winnipeg claimed Kuhlman off waivers and promptly inserted him in the lineup. He played 16-and-a-half minutes in a Jets win over Vancouver, including 1:20 on the penalty kill. Sunday night, with Winnipeg missing forward Blake Wheeler and other injured right wings, Kuhlman was getting first-line minutes alongside center and alternate captain Mark Scheifele (18 goals in 30 games) and impressive rookie Cole Perfetti (six goals, 13 assists).
Kuhlman drew an interference penalty on Kraken D-man Vince Dunn looking to break free for a solo run toward Philipp Grubauer. The Jets scored on an ensuing 5-on-3 power play.