The Seattle Kraken hit the ice at home with one goal in mind: keep the momentum rolling from their heart-stopping overtime victory in Vancouver. That thrilling finish—where the team netted three goals in the final five minutes—set the tone for a confident offensive attack. Fans at Climate Pledge Arena could feel the buzz, hoping to see the same kind of intensity right from puck drop.
This confidence showed early on as the Kraken wasted no time firing shots on net. Their aggressive forecheck and willingness to shoot put Utah’s defense on its heels. However, an unfortunate penalty resulted in a power play for the visiting Utah Hockey Club. Rising star Logan Cooley capitalized on the man-advantage, slotting home the game’s first goal and momentarily quieting the Seattle crowd.
A bit of back and forth
The Kraken’s response to Cooley’s power-play goal was immediate and emphatic. Jaden Schwartz appeared to have the equalizer on a slick backhand, but an offside review reversed the call. Undeterred, Seattle pressed on. Yanni Gourde finally broke through with a timely goal, and not even 50 seconds later, André Burakovsky—whose scoring touch had gone a bit cold—found twine to give the Kraken a 2-1 lead. With two goals in under a minute, the offensive swagger was back.
Despite leading 2-1, Seattle found itself on its heels late in the second period. Utah’s Alexander Kerfoot knotted things up with less than a minute to go, showcasing the resilience of a team hungry to spoil the Kraken’s homecoming party. It was a gut punch, reminding everyone that no lead is safe in the NHL—especially against an underdog team eager to make a statement.
Philipp Grubauer, starting in net again while Joey Daccord nursed an injury, made key stops to keep the game even. Although he allowed two goals on 30 shots overall, his calm presence was crucial when the Kraken’s defense showed cracks late in periods.
Taking control in the third
The final period was all Kraken. Jaden Schwartz, determined to get back on the scoresheet, broke away early in the third. Flying down the ice, he slipped a shot right through the five-hole for the go-ahead goal, erasing the sting of his earlier offside reversal. A few minutes later, Matty Beniers followed suit with a breakaway of his own. While his initial attempt sailed wide, Beniers stuck with the play and cleverly banked the puck off the goaltender and in for a crucial two-goal cushion.
Matty Beniers is finally getting the bounces! pic.twitter.com/Ru3mBBlZrb
— Emerald City Hockey (@EmeraldCityHky) December 31, 2024
Kakko’s name appeared on the scoresheet, assisting both Schwartz and Beniers, a testament to how quickly he’s adapting to the Kraken’s system. Bursting with confidence, the Kraken never looked back from there.
Utah pulled its goalie in a last-ditch effort to claw back, but Jared McCann sealed the deal with an empty-netter to make it 5-2. That brought the arena to its feet and put an exclamation mark on a statement win.
Looking ahead
Aside from the offense, there were plenty of positives to note. Grubauer was steady between the pipes, facing 30 shots and delivering a .933 save percentage. With Daccord sidelined, it’s reassuring to see Grubauer handle the starting load effectively. Meanwhile, Beniers’ offensive spark is a welcome sign given his reputation as a more defensively minded center. Anytime Seattle can get additional scoring punch from him, it’s a bonus that bodes well for future games.
The victory keeps the Kraken rolling as they prepare for another matchup against Vancouver. This time, they’ll look to put together a full 60-minute performance rather than rely on a furious last-minute rally. With the offense clicking and depth players stepping up, Seattle is poised to make its mark in the Pacific Division race. Fans are already buzzing about the team’s newfound confidence—something that was on full display in this win over Utah.
When the Kraken play up to their potential on both ends of the ice, they’re a tough team to beat. And if they keep channeling this combination of grit and firepower, their upcoming showdown with the Canucks could be another must-watch battle on the West Coast.