Top Kraken performers from Seattle’s home win over the Philadelphia Flyers on October 18th, 2024

By Silvia-Leija Rosas, edited by Charles Hamaker

Seattle, WA - In a new running article series that will come after every Seattle Kraken game (and potentially other teams that we cover at Circling Seattle Sports as well), we’ll look at some of the top performers for our Kraken in each contest they play. This will be a series that’s based on the opinion and analysis of the writer who is assigned to it for that game, as Jayd could have different opinions on who played better in a game than Silvia may. The criteria for this could be based on basic stats you can find easily in the box score, through advanced analytics, a key play that the player made in a critical moment during the game, or purely on the good old “eye test.” Here’s Silvia-Leija Rosas’ top performers from the Kraken’s 6-4 home victory over the Philadelphia Flyers!

The first goal of the night for the Seattle Kraken came from defenseman and free agent signing Brandon Montour, as his blast from the blue line leaked through Ivan Fedotov’s five-hole. (Photo by Anthony May)

Monty marks his first!

It’s Monty Mania, and it’s incurable! Brandon Montour scored the first Seattle goal of the night, his first in Kraken colors to tie the game against the Philadelphia Flyers. With a blast from the point past Philadelphia goalie Ivan Fedotov, Montour evened the score late in the first period and brought the fans at Climate Pledge Arena to their feet.

It’s a little too early in the season to make any sweeping generalizations about Brandon Montour’s game, but it’s undoubtedly impressive how he jumped feet first into the Seattle Kraken. Before the game against Philadelphia, Montour was second in the league in average time during 5-on-5 play with 22 minutes, ten seconds. And this isn’t counting the time he’s on the ice for power plays or penalty kills. Montour is weaving around other teams’ skaters like they are orange pylons and creating offensive chances even when the offense isn’t performing at its best. Through five appearances this season, Montour has three points, 19 shots on net and a plus-three rating. And this is only the beginning, with the high likelihood that he gets even better as he grows more comfortable with his Kraken teammates.

Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer during the teams 6-4 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, October 17th, 2024 at Climate Pledge Arena. (Photos by Anthony May)

This is an anti Anti-Grubauer Zone!

After the Kraken fell 0-2 in Dallas against the Stars on October 13th in the second game of a back-to-back, a lot of Twitter users were ready to give Philipp Grubauer the boot (despite the fact that shutouts only happen when your team can’t score…). While Grubauer looked a little lost in the net and a bit jumpy for the first few Flyers goals against the Kraken, he locked in and shut down the anti-Grubauer Club with some huge saves toward the end and especially so during the second period that saw Seattle score four unanswered goals to truly pull themselves to safe distance against the Flyers. “The German Gentleman” stopped 21 of 25 shots in the victory and even got in some slashes against Garnet Hathway after the Flyer tried poking the puck out of Gru’s glove. Anyway, this was Gru’s 50th win with the Kraken and he will have more, whether you like it or not!

Ryker Evans impresses

Just five games into his full-time NHL career this season, Ryker Evans is an everyday professional. He’s nearing a point-per-game pace with one goal and three assists. During the Kraken's 6-4 win over the Flyers tonight, Evans ended the night with a 5 +/-  after opening the ice for Jordan Eberle’s fourth goal of the season. Evans got the ball rolling when he passed from the Kraken zone to Yanni Gourde in neutral ice. Gourde passed the puck to Jared McCann, who found Eberle ready at the side of an open net. 

Evans’ play adds a dynamic the Kraken missed any time Vince Dunn was out in previous seasons. Now, even with Dunn’s ice time being reduced with injury, Evans (and Brandon Montour) can keep up the two-way game the Kraken were banking Dunn for. If Dunn’s day-to-day becomes more long-term, I imagine Evans will jump into a much deserved top four role. Funny enough, head coach Dan Bylsma discussed Evan’s progress as a professional in media availability following morning skate prior to this game and asserted that Ryker proves himself as a full time NHLer every day. Safe to say that a performance such as this after that confidence in his player only helps that belief.

What’s next?

Following tonight’s home win over the Philadelphia Flyers, the first home win of the 2024-25 season for the Kraken, Seattle will have a day of practice tomorrow before the second contest of this five-game homestand. That next game of the homestand comes on Saturday, October 19th, 2024 as the Kraken host the Calgary Flames in the first Pacific Division battle that Seattle will play so far this season. That game between the Flames and our Kraken has a puck drop time of 7PM PDT, and it will be broadcast live on the Kraken Hockey Network and KONG while live over the airwaves on 93.3 KJR FM locally. This is the first of the Kraken “Common thread” nights this season, as it’s Hispanic Heritage night! Tomorrow's jersey was designed by local artist Victor Melendez. Melendez is an art director, graphic designer and illustrator from Seattle, originally from Mexico City. He has been working with brands for over 15 years, in agencies, in-house studios and as a freelancer, doing everything from illustrations, logos, and full advertising campaigns. His clients include REI, T-Mobile, Starbucks, Seattle Theater Group, American Greetings, Crayola, Tattly, USPS, Big Cartel, KEXP, Sub Pop, Red Hook Brewery, Facebook and more. Victor’s design draws inspiration from Quetzalcoatl (“Feathered Serpent” in Nahuatl), the God of Life, Light and Wisdom, also related to arts, crafts, knowledge, and learning. The patterns and colors in the art are inspired by ancient patterns found in architecture, textiles and art from all over Latin America. This will be a tough contest for the Kraken and an intriguing test, as Calgary has started the season out with an impressive 4-0-0 record while showing an aggressive offense.

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