A look at the game “by the numbers.”
- On the game as a whole, in 5-on-5 play, the Kraken created 40-percent of all shot volume and 29.7-percent of all shot quality. But, it’s important to note that that deficit was mainly created in the first period when Seattle generated less than 30-percent of all the offense that happened on the ice. In the final 40 minutes, shot attempts were even between the two teams and the Kraken won the quality battle.
- The biggest differentiator in the game – especially in that opening 20 minutes – was Philipp Grubauer. 72 pucks were fired in his direction, 33 were on target and he stopped them all. Per Evolving-Hockey.com, he prevented 3.11 goals that Pittsburgh should have scored. In terms of exceeding expectations, that’s the best regular season performance of Grubauer’s Kraken career and it’s the fourth-best performance across all his 298 games in the NHL.
- Oliver Bjorkstrand scored for the second game in a row and it was earned. He was second only to the other goal scorer (Alex Wennberg) in terms of individual shot quality; he led his team in offensive zone possession time and controlled entries (9); and had two shots from the slot.
- Wennberg’s line – with Bjorkstrand and Jaden Schwartz was the best Seattle line in the game for the second straight outing – besting the Penguins in shot volume.
- Seattle slowed Pittsburgh’s speed as a whole as well – with six rush chances to the Penguins’ five.
- The best players in the game according to game score were: Grubauer, Wennberg, and Bjorkstrand.
- The Kraken were perfect on the penalty kill (3-for-3) and scored on their third of four power plays in the game.
