A tidal wave of Kraken goals washes away Sharks in 8-5 win
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – To end a six-game homestand that saw the team display playoff-potential, the Seattle Kraken tallied a franchise record eight goals in a win over the San Jose Sharks. The highest scoring contest in team history, the Kraken started the game off with a rocky first period where two San Jose goals off penalties hindered Seattle’s ability to start a flow. The Kraken weathered the storm, sounded the goal horn eight times, and will now head back out onto the road as a better team because of their ability to win games in different ways.
Kraken forward Brandon Tanev gets in a scrap with Sharks forward Luke Kunin (Photos by Liv Lyons)
You get a goal, you get a goal, you get a goal…
Following three straight overtime games that ended all ended in the same score, the Kraken returned to their high-octane offensive form. After failing to score more than three goals since November 8th, the first game of this homestand, the Kraken were able to open the flood gates in the second period. Seven different skaters were able to beat Sharks goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen, including four times in the final frame to truly send the Sharks back out to sea. Despite doubling San Jose in giveaways and nearly matching Seattle in every general statistic, the Kraken were elite tonight at finishing their opportunities.
That finishing came from a myriad of different skaters for Seattle, including defensemen Jamie Oleksiak scoring while coming off an injury and Vince Dunn tallying a goal in a 5 +/- night. Alternate captain Jaden Schwartz lit the lamp twice, extending the Kraken lead while using a Sharks player as a screen for the first and then tapping home an empty netter for the second. The boys from Boston, Ryan Donato and Matty Beniers both scored off great lead passes, putting them in easy position to capitalize. Offseason additions Andre Burakovsky and Oliver Bjorkstrand both found the back of the net, as Bjorkstrand scored for the first time since the season opener. Seattle head coach Dave Hakstol discussed the atmosphere in a way like tonight’s.
Calder trophy candidate Matty Beniers tallied three points on the night, with a 4 +/- (Photo by Liv Lyons)
Still some areas to clean up
On the defensive end of things, the Kraken certainly had some highs and lows, but obviously the five goals mean a solid number of lows. Sharks forward Timo Meier scored a hat trick, with all his goals coming on plays where he was left wide open. San Jose’s other two goals came off tip ins where Kraken defenders got caught napping, and Seattle is lucky that didn’t happen a few more times. Most will just enjoy the eight goals, but the Kraken defensive unit will need to tighten up some of the issues that appeared in this contest, especially as they head on the road to face more divisional opponents. Seattle forward Andre Burakovsky discussed what the team needs to do as they head on the road
Despite allowing the five goals, the Kraken defensive unit and goaltender Martin Jones made some solid stops on the night (Photo by Liv Lyons)
Reflecting on the past six games
The past six games have been a great step in the right direction for the progress of this hockey team. From the start where they blew out Nashville, to dropping games to Minnesota and Winnipeg by razor thin margins, back to back overtime wins and now this true explosion of offense. Lessons were learned about how to win in close situations, how to improve their three on three game (that directly helped them win those overtime games), and generally how to adjust to whatever game comes at them. This Kraken team is deep, from first to fourth line. When he gets the starting nod, I fully expect Philipp Grubauer return to the solid form we had been seeing from in his last few games before an injury halted a good performance in Colorado against his former team. Matty Beniers continues his march to a potential Calder trophy, Oliver Bjorkstrand may have just opened the flood gates for his goal scoring, and Jamie Oleksiak is healthy again. Don’t look now Seattle, but your hockey team could mean business.
Andre Burakovsky snipes the puck top shelf over Sharks goaltender Kaap Kahkonen (Photo by Liv Lyons)
Quick notes
With tonight’s victory, the Sharks became the first team that the Kraken have recorded four wins against.
It also gives the Kraken wins in three consecutive home games, matching the team’s franchise record (Nov. 21 to Dec. 3, 2021 and again from April 16 to 20, 2022).
Tonight's score of 8-5 marks Seattle's highest-scoring game in franchise history, surpassing the 7-4 win against Buffalo on November 29, 2021.
The combined score of 13 also sets a franchise record for most goal scored by both teams in a single game.
Seattle set a new franchise record tonight for unique goal scorers with seven. The previous franchise record was six, reached on March 28, 2022 against Los Angeles.
Fourteen different players scored a point tonight, which ties a franchise record set in the same game against Los Angeles.
The three goals scored in the second period (Dunn, Donato and Oleksiak) mark the fastest three goals scored this season, in 4:19 of gameplay. The Kraken's franchise record still stands, with three goals scored in 2:39 against Nashville on March 2, 2022.
Matty Beniers totaled three points (one goal, two assists) in tonight’s game, setting a single-game career high.
Andre Burakovsky now has eight points (two goals, six assists) in his last six games.
Burakovsky extended his point streak against the Sharks to seven gams and now has 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in his last 13 games against the Sharks and with his goal, continues a seven-game point streak against San Jose.
He now leads the Kraken in points, with 18.
Vince Dunn netted his third goal of the year and his eighth career point against the Sharks.
With his multi-point performance tonight (one goal, one assist), Dunn reaches four points in as many games.
Morgan Geekie, part of the resilient fourth line, brings the puck up the ice (Photo by Liv Lyons)
What’s next?
Following an impressive 4-1-1 homestand, the Kraken will now head on a three-game road trip. Seattle will face three divisional opponents, the first being the Las Vegas Golden Knights, a team that the Kraken have never beaten before. The two newest teams in the NHL and top two teams in the Pacific Division will face off on Friday, November 25th with a puck drop at 5PM PST.