An injury, a milestone, and a win: Kraken’s eventful night against Chicago
The Seattle Kraken added another win to their record last night, edging out the Chicago Blackhawks in a game that featured 60 minutes of tenacious play and notable milestones. With Connor Bedard, the reigning Calder Trophy winner, and former Kraken forward Ryan Donato in the lineup for Chicago, the Kraken stood tall, taking home a 3-1 victory and extending their winning streak to three games.
Seattle set a high pace from the opening faceoff, showing a much more complete and consistent performance than their last outing against Columbus. In that game, early defensive lapses led to two quick Columbus goals, but this time, the Kraken executed their game plan fully. Joey Daccord held the net down solidly, shaking off an early scare where he found himself out of position but recovered just in time to keep Donato from capitalizing.
After a scoreless first period, Matty Beniers finally broke through in the second, notching the game’s first goal just over 15 minutes into the period. That gave the Kraken the momentum to maintain pressure on Chicago’s defense, who struggled to keep up with Seattle’s relentless shooting and aggressive forechecking.
However, the Blackhawks found a way onto the scoreboard with an unusual goal courtesy of none other than Ryan Donato. On a loose puck that Daccord initially thought he had smothered, Donato slipped in a shot that pinged off the post, then ricocheted off the back of Daccord to break his shutout bid. It was a tough bounce, but Daccord didn’t let it rattle him, closing out the game with solid saves and showing the kind of poise that’s earned him a bigger role this season.
Ryan Donato gets Chicago on the board with a very Ryan Donato goal.
— Emerald City Hockey (@EmeraldCityHky) November 15, 2024
He follows up his own shot with a hustle and drive Kraken fans know well. pic.twitter.com/JQ42KWp14R
Eberle's Injury and Schwartz’s Milestone
The Kraken’s night wasn’t without some bad news, as Jordan Eberle suffered an awkward fall and collision into the boards early in the second period. Eberle needed assistance getting to the locker room and did not return for the rest of the game. His status is now a key focus moving forward, especially with the team facing a string of critical matchups. Fortunately, Daniel Sprong’s return to Seattle couldn’t have come at a better time, giving the Kraken added depth in case Eberle’s recovery takes some time.
In brighter news, Jaden Schwartz reached a personal milestone in front of the home crowd, scoring his 200th career goal. With Seattle leading 1-0, Chandler Stephenson found Schwartz in perfect position in front of the net on the power play, and Schwartz made no mistake. The goal sparked the crowd, energized the Kraken, and helped drive them to victory. This pivotal moment earned Schwartz the game's first star, fueling Seattle to their third straight win.
In summary, Seattle’s win was a disciplined, full-team effort that showed the Kraken’s ability to play a complete 60 minutes. They made smart plays, distributed the puck well, and kept their foot on the gas—signs that this group is getting more comfortable with its new systems under Coach Bylsma.
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