Final Buzzer: Kraken Come Up Short

• Kraken were fast out of the gate with four Grade-A scoring chances in the first half of the first period. But visitors from Vegas generated five Grade-A opportunities in the second 10 minutes. Kraken goalie Chris Driedger worked his glove and poised positioning to keep it 0-0 going into first intermission.
• Driedger made a huge save on a Vegas shorthanded breakaway mid-second period to keep it scoreless but 37 seconds later, Vegas D-man Shea Theodore exited the penalty box to receive a stretch pass for a wide-open rush on the Kraken goalie. This breakaway Driedger couldn't stop.
• Vegas takes a two-goal lead seven minutes into the third period. With two minutes remaining and the Seattle net empty, it appeared the Kraken finally solved Vegas rookie goalie Logan Thompson. But the goal was not allowed when an offside challenge was successful. An empty-net goal for Vegas makes it a 3-0 final.

On a night starting with a handful of early Grade-A scoring chances for Seattle, this 3-0 loss turned on a pair of breakaways mid-second period. The Kraken won't have to wait long to avenge the result. These two Pacific Division rivals face each other Friday in a rematch here at Climate Pledge Arena.
With just over 13 minutes remaining in the middle frame, Vegas center William Karlsson took a shorthanded breakaway to the net only to be stopped by Chris Driedger on an acrobatic save to his stick side. Seattle-fan noise erupted for the Kraken goaltender.
But when Vegas D-man Shea Theodore exited the penalty box 37 seconds later, he was wide open for an outlet pass from a teammate for an instant breakaway that beat Driedger this time. The Kraken goalie, who won in LA Monday, stayed big in net to keep it 1-0 after two periods, highlighted by two close-in saves on 25-goal scorer Jonathan Marchessault late in the period.
The second period was challenging for Driedger and the Kraken. Vegas generated 16 scoring chances (eight of them Grade-A quality) to eight for Seattle (two Grade-A). The third period featured nine more scoring chances for Vegas, including four Grade-A (one that turned into the second goal). Seattle logged only four scoring chances and none were high-danger opportunities.
"We had a good first [period]," Driedger said post-game. "It looked like we ran out of steam after that."
"The second period was the difference in this hockey game," Kraken coach Dave Hakstol said.
"We had a turnover [an intercepted Victor Rask pass] right at the end of our power play [that turned into a breakaway goal].
"Against a good team we didn't take care of the puck. They got inside on us a lot in the second period."

Facing Things

Hakstol said "faceoffs were a real problem for us" in the middle period, leading to extended offensive zone time for the visitors. While Driedger kept to a one-goal margin, it's hard to tie the game from your own zone.
"Driedgs did a good job, he stopped one breakaway right before the first goal of game," said Hakstol, adding he didn't fault the goalie on the second goal.
The head coach said he didn't think his squad was lacking offensive energy because of all that defending. Puck management was more on his mind as he anticipated reviewing the game video to get ready for Friday's rematch.
"Some details are a little more fresh in your mind," Hakstol said. "We can look at adjustments and see what we can do better."

Keeping It Close

Driedger deserved a better outcome. He faced 20 shots on goal through two periods, including 13 Grade-A scoring chances (and 17 total on the night). He stopped all but one, keeping the game within reach for his teammates through two periods.
Seven minutes into the third period, Vegas doubled its lead with a net-front rebound shot that eluded a sprawled Driedger and ricocheted into the net off defenseman Adam Larsson's skate. Michael Amadio was credited with the goal, his eighth of the season.
Seattle, despite eight Grade-A chances of their own Wednesday night, couldn't crack the code on 6-foot-4 rookie goaltender Logan Thompson. The Kraken's best chance came off the active stick of rookie forward Kole Lind. He hit the crossbar with a rocket of a shot early second period. Lind, who looks like he belongs at the NHL level, was robbed by Thompson net-front later in the middle frame.