Panthers on the Prowl, Seattle Kraken Lose 3-2

The Seattle Kraken dropped a tough one to a very good Florida Panthers team, losing 3-2. The Kraken outplayed the Panthers early but were not able to keep up the pressure and let this one get away. Goaltender Joey Daccord got the start in net, and was solid throughout, saving the team’s bacon more often than not. The game was an early afternoon game if you live in Seattle. In case you weren’t able to watch, here is what you missed.

The first period was exciting, highlighted by a beer league, triple deke style goal by Jared McCann. The period was a really great period of hockey. Both teams were equally efficient with the edge going to the Kraken. Seattle outshot Florida 15-12, and led 1-0 after the period. Kraken goalie Joey Daccord was tested often by the Panthers, and stood tall. His 12 saves were mostly on quality scoring chances.

Sam Reinhart almost scored about half way through the first on a nifty move, Daccord was just better. The only real negative for the Kraken during the first was the lackluster performance on the man advantage.

Florida is horrible on the penalty kill so power play goals should be a premium in this one. The Kraken were hardly able to enter the attack zone on their one power play attempt. Pretty sloppy play on the zone entry. Easy fix though, get a little dump and chase going to force the Panthers to adjust and relieve some of that pressure that slowed the zone entry. What a difference a period makes.

Second period was all Panther’s domination. Really just all Florida. Eeli Tolvanen scored for the Kraken, putting them up 2-0, and after that Seattle was able to muster only 2 more shots, 2, the remainder of the period. Florida woke up and up and put their foot on the gas, getting 13 second period shots. The Panthers scored 2 goals in 11 seconds to tie the game. With 10 seconds left in the period Sam Reinhart scored a jaw dropping, beautiful goal to put Florida up 3-2.

After review Reinhart was offside and the goal was taken away. Whew! Still a 2-2 game. The only real positive for the Kraken during the second was the play of Joey Daccord. He was incredible. Stood on his head, in spite of the 2 Florida goals. Pretty much all of the shots on goal by Florida were high quality. Matthew Tkachuk scored the second of the 2 goals, for his first of the season.

If you are a hockey coach, the film from the first two periods should be shown to your defensemen. The play of both teams’ defensemen was textbook. The Florida “fans” really showed how ignorant they are when the boo-birds and ‘refs you suck!’ chants began after two correct reversed calls.

The third period started with the Kraken pushing back. Great to see them respond with pressure and shots on goals after the abysmal second period. The Kraken were the better team in the third, even though Florida extended their lead with a goal from Nick Cousins. The Kraken outshot the Panthers 15-10 in the third. Seattle pulled Daccord with little time left but was not able to score. The game ended with a 3-2 loss.

Negatives

• Florida won.
• Seattle Kraken only had 3 shots on goal in the second period. That right there ain’t gonna cut it. How do you outplay a team 2 out of the 3 periods and lose the game?
• Another wasted effort by a Kraken goalie.
• Matthew Tkachuk scored.

Positives

• The SeattleKraken won 52% of the faceoffs. They had possession of the puck in this one, if not for that forgettable second period.
• Seattle got another great game out of Joey Daccord. He is slowly giving the team a good problem to have (who to start). Too bad the team couldn’t score more.
• The Kraken defense was solid throughout the game. Textbook game from the blueline.

Final Takeaways

The Seattle Kraken played one of their best games of the season tonight. If not for the horrid second period, the team would have won. Daccord is playing great, he made some huge saves in this game, and really made this game fun to watch. The team got lucky that Reinhart’s beautiful goal did not count. Even Daccord looked shocked that it went in.

The plus is that the team has 3 out of the possible 6 points so far on this road trip. So it has not been all bad. The team is playing much better in recent games. They look to get a win on Devil’s Night or Halloween Eve, Monday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the last game of this road trip.

Fear the deep!