While the Kraken were scoring three third-period goals to push Columbus into overtime Saturday night at raucous Climate Pledge Arena, a pair of Seattle prospects were helping to bring down the house - and 4,000 stuffed teddy bears - in the AHL in Charlotte.
The Checkers were down 3-1 mid-third period Saturday when Connor Carrick (signed by the Kraken as a free agent) launched a shot from center ice that eluded the Syracuse goaltender to spark a four-goal comeback and decibel levels that any Kraken fan would appreciate. Cale Fleury, the Kraken's pick from Montreal during the expansion draft, scored the game-winner on a rocket of a shot from inside the blue line.
Fleury also had the honor of scoring the first goal for the home team, prompting a tradition across the AHL. On Teddy Bear Toss night, when the home team scores its opening goal, fans throw stuffed bears onto the ice. Those teddies are then collected and donated to charity.
"It's my first Teddy Bear goal so it's a pretty cool experience," said Fleury, who, yes is Haydn Fleury's younger brother. "I've always wanted to score one and it was nice to get it."
Charlotte coach Geordie Kinnear has been impressed with Fleury's play all season: "He just comes to work. He's ultra-competitive, he plays hard all the time and he's a great teammate. We're happy and lucky to have him. I'm glad he got rewarded because he's played a lot of hard minutes for us."
