More Missed Opportunities Plague Kraken as Avalanche Mount Third Period Comeback
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Seattle Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn (29) plays the puck while defended by Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images [/caption]
SEATTLE, Wash. — With Chandler Stephenson’s power-play goal at 19:24 of the second period, the Seattle Kraken put themselves ahead of the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 in front of a pumped-up home crowd at Climate Pledge Arena on Tuesday.
Against the NHL’s top team, Seattle put itself in position to drive home a much-needed victory in the third period. After losing eight of their previous nine games, most of them close in the third period, the Kraken had a chance to finish things off and wind up in the win column.
“I think just having that killer instinct and really taking over and step on team’s throats really, to put it bluntly,” Kraken forward Shane Wright told the Emerald City Spectrum on Monday when asked what they needed to turn things around.
“I think just really burying our chances and finishing our chances. Maybe a late power play or something, really. These big moments. Late penalty kill gives us some momentum and stuff that like that. Just these little parts of the game that can build momentum.”
The Kraken would have those opportunities against Colorado on Tuesday, but it’s much easier said than done.
Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon tied the game just 2:40 into the third period, and after Kraken captain Jordan Eberle missed a potential go-ahead penalty shot off the post at 7:49, defenseman Vince Dunn committed a brutal tripping penalty to put Colorado on the power play, which they took advantage of in just 10 seconds to jump ahead 4-3 at 8:25.
Once again, Seattle could not find the tying goal, and the Avalanche handed the Kraken their ninth loss in 10 games (1-8-1) with a 5-3 victory that MacKinnon sealed with an empty-net goal at 19:36.
After the game, Kraken PR allowed only a team employee to ask questions in Lambert’s postgame press conference, which lasted just over one minute.
If that doesn’t sum up where this team is at…
“We played hard, like we have been,” Lambert said. “We just can’t find a way to get over the finish line.”
The Kraken put forth a relatively strong performance against the best team in the league, but a couple late mistakes once again made the difference as their skid continues. Frustrations, understandably, are at an all-time high.
There’s no such thing as moral victories in the NHL, but had this game played out under a different context in the season, the feelings wouldn’t be this bad. Or this strong.
But this is the context the team is living in.
“These games are tight,” Eberle said. “I think most of the games have been. A mistake here, capitalize on a chance here, and tonight it came down for me that I gotta find a way to put that (penalty shot) in and give us the lead.”
The Kraken started out strong, with the top line of Eeli Tolvanen, Stephenson and Freddy Gaudreau holding off Colorado’s lethal top line led by MacKinnon on the opening shift.
The rest of the team tried to get a jump early, outshooting the Avalanche 8-3 midway through the first period, but Colorado struck first when MacKinnon’s line broke through. Martin Necas fired a shot through traffic, which redirected in off Artturi Lehkonen at 12:19.
Seattle had a chance to respond with two power-play opportunities practically back-to-back, but could not get past Colorado’s league-best kill (85.71% entering Tuesday). The Avalanche went on the man advantage at the end of the period, but Grubauer made a couple big saves to keep them off the board.
“They’re aggressive. You got to move the puck quick,” Eberle said of the Avalanche penalty kill. “I mean, I think they’re number one in the league, so they just– they’re connected. They pressure and pressure and pressure, you got to just move it quick.”
The Kraken came out strong again in the second period, but this time took advantage, scoring twice in the first 5:48 on a pair of greasy follow-up goals.
Shane Wright followed his own shot from the left side into a netfront scramble and punched it through at 3:03 to tie it 1-1 before Eberle followed up a rush from Matty Beniers and Adam Larsson to force in a rebound following a great save by Colorado goalie Mackenzie Blackwood at 5:48.
But they couldn’t build on the lead when they needed to. The Avalanche tied it 2-2 on Samuel Girard’s first goal of the season, which he fired from behind the right circle at 13:29.
Seattle took back momentum late in the frame, killing off a third straight Colorado power play before Avalanche forward Ross Colton boarded Ryan Lindgren against the Kraken’s end wall.
Stephenson scored on the ensuing power play, sliding a shot through from the right circle with 35.2 seconds left in the period to take a 3-2 lead.
Ultimately, the special teams battle turned out to be a wash — both power plays finished 1-for-4 — but Colorado capitalized at the right time.
Seattle had their final power-play opportunity in the third period with the game tied 3-3. They received the ultimate chance to take the lead when Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson covered the puck in the crease, which gave the Kraken a penalty shot at 7:49.
Eberle stepped up, picked his spot and just narrowly missed the mark. The shot flew off the post and away.
Seconds later, Dunn’s penalty put Colorado on the power play, and it ultimately decided the game.
“We played our game,” Eberle said. “We were with them. Comes down to I missed a penalty shot to possibly take the lead, and they score a power play right after. That’s the difference right there.”
The Kraken are left to gather themselves on an upcoming four-game road trip before the holiday break, starting in Calgary on Thursday.
