A lot has gone sideways for Seattle this season, but their matchups against the Canucks have been one bright spot. With Wednesday night’s 5-0 victory, the Kraken took the season series 3-1, punctuated by a dominant shutout performance from Joey Daccord. It marked the second shutout of the season for Seattle and the fifth of Daccord’s career.
All four meetings between the two clubs were memorable, from the historic three-goal comeback in December to last night’s total team effort. Since dropping their first six games against Vancouver in franchise history, the Kraken have now gone 7-1-1 in the last nine meetings—flipping the narrative and staking their claim as a worthy Pacific Division rival.
Daccord dials it in
Joey Daccord has had a bumpy ride since the All-Star break, but Wednesday was a reminder of what he’s capable of when locked in. Daccord stopped all 24 shots he faced for his second shutout of the season and fifth of his NHL career. It was a needed bounce-back performance for the 28-year-old, who came into the night with a 3.60 GAA and .876 save percentage in his last 12 starts.
With the Kraken mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, it would’ve been easy to coast. But Daccord’s effort proved this team still has pride—and he still has a strong case to remain Seattle’s top netminder heading into next season.
Jani Nyman doesn’t blink
This game was physical early and often, with scrums, hits, and extra shoves along the boards. And standing tall in the middle of it all was 20-year-old Finnish forward Jani Nyman. Despite his age and limited NHL experience, Nyman didn’t shy away from the contact. He stayed engaged, played with poise, and continued to show why he’s likely to earn a full-time NHL role next season. His size and skill are clear—but seeing him hold his own physically against a desperate playoff contender was another positive sign for Seattle’s future.
Depth Scoring and McCann's Milestone Night
Seattle’s offense didn’t just rely on stars—this was a full team effort. Michael Eyssimont opened the scoring late in the first period by intercepting a pass in the neutral zone and converting on a breakaway. From there, the Kraken rolled with goals from Andre Burakovsky, Chandler Stephenson, Shane Wright, and Adam Larsson.
Jared McCann played the role of setup man, notching three assists on the night to tie Chandler Stephenson for the team lead. Vince Dunn also added two helpers, continuing his quietly effective stretch on the blue line.
The Kraken were without leading scorers Jaden Schwartz and Eeli Tolvanen, but their absence was barely felt thanks to the team’s well-balanced attack.
Pride, spoilers, and a rival silenced
While this game didn’t mean much in the standings for Seattle, it meant everything in spirit. The Kraken didn’t roll over—they showed up, silenced a divisional rival fighting for playoff position, and left no doubt about who owned this season series.
From the opening puck drop to the final horn, this one had all the makings of a true rivalry game—and the Kraken made sure they had the last word.