Kraken Goalie Nikke Kokko ‘Comfortable’ in First NHL Start as Seattle Beats Flames Amid Elimination

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Seattle Kraken goaltender Nikke Kokko (39) defends the goal against the Calgary Flames during the first period at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images [/caption]

The Seattle Kraken picked up a solid 4-1 win over the visiting Calgary Flames on Saturday night at Climate Pledge Arena, winning their second straight game after a rough stretch.

Before the game, the Kraken learned they were mathematically eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention by virtue of the Los Angeles Kings’ win earlier Saturday.

Kokko’s Big Night

Both of Seattle’s main goalies, Joey Daccord and backup Philipp Grubauer, were out with lower-body injuries. Matt Murray is away from the team tending to a personal matter.

It was down to the 25-year-old Finnish goal Nikke Kokko to make his first NHL start between the pipes. Facing a Flames team that is also out of the race, the Kraken outplayed Calgary most of the night at Climate Pledge.

Flames attackers shot 27 times and Kokko stopped 26 of them, only allowing a goal early in the second period to Hunter Brzustewicz. That actually gave Calgary the lead briefly. However, Kokko buckled down and did not allow another goal the entire night.

“I was a little bit nervous before the game,” Kokko said after the game. “But … when I came to the rink and started doing my routine, then I enjoyed it. When the puck dropped, I felt comfortable.”

Offensive Explosion in Second

Right after the Flames took a 1-0 lead, the Kraken attack went to work. Just 54 seconds later, Freddy Gaudreau tied it at 1-1 with an assist from Kaapo Kakko (who picked up his 200th career point on the play).

Chandler Stephenson and Matty Beniers also got in on the action later in the second period, with goals on their own. Six different Kraken players wracked up an assist in those three goals. Jordan Eberle added a goal in the third period, facing an empty net, to extend Seattle’s lead to 4-1.

Defenseman Ryker Evans notched two assists, the only Kraken skater with multiple points in the game. That was his first multi-point game since November 22.

Kraken Eliminated From Playoff Contention

Before the opening faceoff against Calgary, Seattle became mathematically eliminated after the Kings defeated the Oilers. This marks the third straight season that the Kraken have missed the playoffs. In five years as a franchise, they have only made the playoffs once.

They possessed a playoff spot for a large chunk of the year leading up to the Olympic break. After the league resumed play, Seattle went 6-14-3 before the win against Calgary. Too little, too late.

Seattle plays one last home game of the season on Monday against the Kings before finishing the season on the road for two games.