Close, but no cigar for the Seattle Kraken, who had some promising looks in an effective, defense-first game against the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers but ultimately fell 2-1 in a shootout.
“We’ll take the point,” Chandler Stephenson, who scored Seattle’s lone goal with a breakaway late in the first period, said. “Obviously, it would have been nice [to win], but at the same time, we still did some good things. But I think we’ll just look to be better next game… Joey played outstanding for us, gave us a chance, and we just couldn’t buy one in overtime.”
Florida tilted the ice for much of the game and came close to a 2-to-1 shots-on-goal advantage. However, the Kraken defended well by keeping shots to the outside, breaking up seam passes, and benefiting from Joey Daccord’s stellar 32-save performance. This was particularly impressive given that Daccord had been a late scratch on Sunday in New York due to a stomach bug.
Here are Three Takeaways from a 2-1 Kraken shootout loss to the Panthers:
Takeaway #1: Controversial tying goal for Florida
The Kraken got the short end of the officiating stick Tuesday, with a missed call on Nate Schmidt directly leading to Florida’s only goal in regulation.
Seconds after Daccord made his best save of the game—a sprawling glove save on a 2-on-1 chance for Aaron Ekblad—Brandon Tanev sprung Yanni Gourde for a breakaway. Gourde cut to his left to shield Schmidt from the puck, but Schmidt swung his stick around and whacked Yanni on the hands, causing him to lose control.
Ridiculous non-call on Nate Schmidt to break up a Yanni Gourde breakaway at one end, Barkov ties it at the other end.
— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) December 11, 2024
Bylsma was furious with the officials after that one.
1-1 through 40 minutes. #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/ot3fUw4xW9
If that same play happens 10 times, the referees call it nine times, perhaps even awarding a penalty shot two or three of those times. Instead, the play went back the other way and ended with Aleksander Barkov rifling a one-timer from the right circle into an open net.
Bylsma was screaming at the officials both during and after the play, on which just 11 seconds elapsed between the slash and the Panthers’ goal that tied the game at 1-1.
After the game, I asked Bylsma what he saw because it had looked to me like Schmidt got his stick into Gourde’s hands. “Yeah, you described it pretty good,” Bylsma said. “We get the wall play, and it squirts out there. Yanni has speed, we get it to Yanni, and he has a breakaway. It looks like his glove comes off his stick for a reason, but that’s not the way the ref saw it. He saw stick on stick.”
It’s always brutal to see a blown call lead immediately to a goal against, and in this low-scoring affair, it ended up being pivotal.
Takeaway #2: Rope-a-dope almost works (again)
Twice in the last week, the Kraken have played what I call a rope-a-dope style of hockey. They did it in New Jersey on Friday against the Devils, relying on Philipp Grubauer, who was sharp that night. Seattle ended up losing that one 3-2 due to a flubbed net-front play to start the third period, but it was anybody’s game despite a dramatic difference in zone time.
On Tuesday, against the high-flying Panthers, Seattle was back in “bend but don’t break” mode. This time it was Daccord in net, and he was dialed in from the start. The Kraken seemed more in control this time because they did such a good job in their zone, allowing shots while taking away passing lanes and blocking many of the more dangerous-looking attempts at the net.
“I thought all six defensemen did a real good job of [clearing the front of the net],” Bylsma said. “But back behind them was Joey.”
In both the Devils and Panthers games, the puck was in Seattle’s end a lot, and yet some late chances in each contest could have led to better outcomes.
Friday, it was the Brandon Montour chance that rolled through the blue paint and past a yawning cage. Tuesday, it was a cut to the middle by Jared McCann and a dish to Shane Wright, who chipped it over from a sharp angle late in regulation. It was also breakaways by McCann and Oliver Bjorkstrand (Bjorkstrand’s came with nine seconds left) in overtime, both of which were shut down by Sergei Bobrovsky.
If any of those three late-game chances had found the back of the net, Seattle would have knocked off the champs in thrilling fashion. Instead, they settled for a point and remained at .500 on the season.
Takeaway #3: What happened to Yanni?
The play discussed in Takeaway #2 was Yanni Gourde’s last shift of the second period. He played one more early in the third and then exited the game with a lower-body injury. I asked Bylsma if the injury was related to the Schmidt slash that led to the Barkov goal. Bylsma thought about it for a moment and then said, “It was after the breakaway that it happened.”
I took that to mean it happened on a completely separate play, but after reviewing the sequence, I think Bylsma meant it happened as Gourde was falling off to his left immediately following the slash. He careened awkwardly, and it almost looked like his skate dug into the ice in a way that could cause a lower-body injury. He was in distress on the bench after Barkov scored.
Here’s the end of Gourde’s last shift. Nothing too obvious, but 🤷🏻♂️. #SeaKraken https://t.co/SQYPn2oOFH pic.twitter.com/2IwQILCMWn
— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) December 11, 2024
My working theory is that the slash itself didn’t hurt Gourde, but losing his balance did. On the shift Gourde played early in the third, he looked fine, throwing hits and skating without a limp. Hopefully, his removal from the game is similar to what happened against the Islanders last Thursday, and this ends up being just a minor issue.
Darren Brown
Darren Brown is the Chief Content Officer at soundofhockey.com and the host of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast. He is a member of the PHWA and is also usually SOH’s Twitter intern (but please pretend you don’t know that). Follow him @DarrenFunBrown and @sound_hockey or email darren@soundofhockey.com.
When you are out shot 2:1, making it to the shootout is fortunate.
They did have chances though but for Bob…
It’s hard to fathom that this team that we saw in the last 5 games is the same team got run outta the building by the Sharks and Ducks. There are such things as “good losses” and the Kraken played unbelievable D. With all of Florida’s O zone possession time we could’ve easily been down by 4 goals. On a different note, I’m intrigued to watch the progression of Matty B and Shane over the remainder of the season. I think Shaner is going to have a bigger year and I wouldn’t be surprised if he overtakes Matty in 2 seasons. Crazy? Maybe but I think he’s proving to the club that other teams missed out by letting him slip to 4th.
Yes this was one of my takeaways too. Matty had yet another ho hum offensive game but Shane had some really good chances AND great defense too. He JUST missed the top corner in the last minute of regulation! I would’ve been so pumped for him. He really deserved it with the way he’s been playing.
Also, very hard to say anything negative about the goaltending when getting <30% xGF yet again, but I’ll manage haha. Daccord didn’t look right in the shootout. It seems that since last week, he’s had a bit of a problem getting reads on lateral moves. Granted it was against two elite goal scorers on a Stanley Cup winning team, but those attempts looked so non-competitive. Glad he seemed to rebound from his rough patch last week, though.
I’m not sure if “defensive game” really describes their plan. They had no choice because they were stuck in their own end for the vast majority of that game. Eddie criticized them yet again for passing and dumping instead of skating ahead and shooting. Not sure why they sometimes revert to this Uber passive approach. The best defense is playing 200 feet away from your goaltender.
I don’t think Daccord had a chance on the first shootout goal but could have followed the shooter better on the second. I actually don’t think Daccord is great at shootouts, I don’t really care though I think they are stupid and shouldn’t be in the game. Daccord is very good and the routine saves and playing the puck well, he can make the occasional huge save but all in all he’s just very solid and makes the saves he’s supposed to.
If we’re bringing up Eddie calling out stuff how about Burky, he’s finally noticed what most of us have long ago. He just does so many stupid things with the puck that turns the play the other direction.
My take on the game…. Your not a playoff contender or even making the playoffs if your “happy” that you were basically doubled in shots and lost in a shootout. The talking heads and the players seemed happy with the result, that’s basically saying we’re bad and just happy keeping the game tight because of good goaltending when we are playing a good team!!!! Can’t say I’m happy with their mindset on this.
Totally agree. It’s a loser mentality.
A nice tribute to the Tribes and great to get a point against a high quality team like Florida. Go Kraken! My three takeaways.
1. Is it just me, or does Burakovsky continue to be very shaky and unreliable? The blue line literally stole the puck off him last night at a critical moment in the game. We will see if Bylsma is determined to play him, no matter what.
2. My circle of Kraken faithful are still mystified as to why Shane isn’t getting PP1 time after they discovered the Shane version of the Ovechkin spot. Apparently four goals in three games doesn’t register as “a thing” with the coaching staff.
3. Unfortunately, the refs decided to take matters into their own hands last night and spoil what could have been a very good game. You say 9 out of 10 times that call is made. I say 10 out of 10.
Bonus takeaway. I’m not prepared to say Bylsma is faltering, even given the above, but It’s a dangerous game to rely on your goalie to make you look like a good coach. So far, Joey seems up to it.
After you brought up Wright and the power play recently I was paying particular attention last night. The main thing I noticed was how little time PP2 ended up getting. It seemed during the first power play there were opportunities to swap out multiple times and that didn’t happen. I did see afterwards, however, that Stephenson went 3 for 3 on that first power play in the faceoff circle.
In the game where Wright scored two on the PP I believe he was on the first unit and now Beniers is in that spot. In their last five games they have four goals with the advantage – two by Wright and two by Bjorkstrand – and the PP1 group has been pretty consistent and definitely getting the most ice time – about 3 to 1.
I do think the entries and maintaining possession in the offensive zone have been much better lately and maybe that has something to do with the group they’re going with. I think it is curious, as you say, that Wright isn’t on the first power play. I also think, however, that simply because I’m not sure why doesn’t mean there isn’t a good reason.
I tend to think the guy with a Stanley Cup who has dedicated his entire professional life to hockey and has a staff of like oriented people knows more about how to coach a team than I do… so if I see something I think is a “mistake”, I usually try and actually figure out why… and if I can’t, I assume it’s something I’m missing. I have a hard time believing it just hasn’t “registered” with the coaching staff. As you mentioned last time, I’d like it if someone asked Bylsma why, but short of that, four PP goals in five games seems to be working and this team is finally starting to play like they played season before last.
Go Kraken!!!
Regarding Shane on PP1, I think you’re probably guilty of some recency bias. Shane was scratched for a reason. He’s a 20-year old in his first full NHL season. He looked like he was getting overwhelmed prior to riding the bench, and has since looked like he had time to catch his breath and re-focus on the best parts of his game in the last 9-games. I think the coaching staff wants to keep it simple for him to get the best out of him as he adjusts and grows. He’ll earn PP1 in time, but for now they seem to have a good read on him and what he needs.
I’ve been a huge fan of how the club has been bringing Shane along. I’m not one of the people who thinks we should be rushing his development. However, despite his age, he has made the team, and he has knack for being successful on the PP, and almost always from that spot. Low on the left circle, just off the net. If you watch his highlight reels, It was the case in the AHL and in juniors prior to that. He seems to get lost and ignored by the other team when he sneaks into that spot, and he also happens to have the hands and shot to bury passes from there. Again…4 goals in 3 games can’t fairly be considered “dumb luck.” I don’t think it’s unreasonable to think it’s strange they decided to turn off that faucet. I think it’s strange that I seem to be the only person on SoH who thinks it’s strange, other than a cautiously acquiescing Daryl W.
Strange?… Sure, that’s not unreasonable, but I believe the word used originally was idiotic.
I think it’s a question worth asking… but again… I think the guy who has probably spent more time with Wright than any coach since he was 15 years old has a better idea of what he’s doing with him than me… some guy sitting on his couch.
To be clear – and maybe a little less cautious – I don’t know if Wright should be on PP1 or not… but I absolutely know what Bylsma thinks is worth more than the opinion of anyone on here and I’m certainly going to question my own assumptions before I question his.
I think maybe nobody on SOH is questioning Shane not being on PP1 because over the last five games this team and the power play have been dramatically improved and other than harping on previously established grudges – Grubauer, Burakovski, Stephenson – folks aren’t trying to out coach the coach… just a thought.
Campbell runs the power play!!!!!’ If we’re going to be complaining about how the PP is run at least reference the correct coach.
Actually, if the reporting is correct, I think Woods runs the power play and Campbell assists… but I’m not gonna argue with five exclamation points and an apostrophe.
I’ve always thought my three “Go Kraken” exclamation points were a bit much… but maybe not…
Go Kraken!!!!!’
I like to think the coaches really know what they are doing. Oddly, they still manage to get fired all the time.
Shane almost potted another one from the Shane Spot last night. Also awesome play to set up Schwartz for his PP goal.
Wright continues to look outstanding and even though time expired, I think – as the coach said post-game – that’s Schwartz goal set up by Wright was a score for the power play.
Much closer PP1 and PP2 splits. I belive Wright ended up with 1:48 to Beniers 2:11.
In addition to getting fired all the time coaches also get hired… which certainly puts them a leg up on me.
Go Kraken!!!
A non-hockey note. It seems David Bonderman has just passed away. How the Kraken ownership group operates is pretty opaque. Any insights on what this might mean going forward, if anything (I know his daughter is involved)?
Wow. To early to hypothesize, but I wonder if this has any implication for potential Sonics ownership in the next few years. It’s been assumed (I think) that the Kraken ownership would also be involved in ownership of the NBA expansion team (I never believed that for a personally) which would enable the Kraken to maintain their “primary tenant” status at CPA. A completely separate NBA ownership group would make that much harder. In either case though, once the Sonics return this team immediately becomes 2nd fiddle in town. I don’t like it (I think the NBA is just a celebrity (player) driven league that is running out of one-name celebrities, and NBA games are unwatchable. But that’s not the opinion of most, apparently
It shouldn’t. Samantha Holloway, Bonderman’s daughter (whom took over her the reign on running the franchise a few years ago from her dad) is spearheading those efforts and no there won’t be a separate ownership group. More investors will probably be added once the NBA starts the whole expansion process.
It shouldn’t change anything Samantha (his daughter) already has been running things since she became co-owner of the team back in 2022. So there is going to be minimal disruption on the operations of the team.
Damnit, why couldn’t Florida have taken the Kraken lightly and played their backup netminder? Bobrovsky is the real deal. The dude was just feeling it, too. Don’t let the shot count fool you; the Kraken got their chances. A lot of those chances missed wide or were blocked, but plenty of dangerous shots got through only to get stoned by an excellent netminder. It was like after Stephenson put him on Sportscenter he was having no more of it.
It was a really slow start for both teams in this game. The first half of the first period looked like practice. Even the crowd seemed to be taking a nap. After the Stephenson goal everybody woke up. Stephenson had another one of his good games. Apart from the goal, he made some slick defensive plays on the forecheck, including a mugging at the blue line that looked like it took the puck carrier completely by surprise even though Stephenson was standing right in front of him. I believe that was the play that sprung McCann for his big chance. When he turns it on, he is big time.