Kraken overcome early deficit, Daccord shines in 4-2 win over Penguins

The Seattle Kraken found a way to prevail in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night, earning a 4-2 victory despite being outplayed for long stretches. The Penguins seemed in control early on, outshooting the Kraken 16-2 in the first period and taking a 2-1 lead into the final frame. However, Seattle’s resilience—and a stellar showing from Joey Daccord—proved too much for Pittsburgh to handle in the end.

Daccord was the backbone of the Kraken’s effort, turning aside 31 shots and even registering an assist on Chandler Stephenson’s short-handed goal in the opening minutes. While the Penguins frequently tested Daccord, he stood tall, posting a .939 save percentage and keeping Seattle within striking distance until the offense could break through. That offensive spark arrived in the third period, when Jamie Oleksiak took a pass high in the zone and weaved into the slot to tie the game at 2-2. Just 49 seconds later, Eeli Tolvanen tapped in a perfect centering pass from Shane Wright, giving the Kraken a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Kaapo Kakko sealed the win with an empty-net goal, capping off a night in which he logged over 20 minutes of ice time—a welcome sign for a franchise looking to develop its young players. Wright, meanwhile, continues to show flashes of brilliance but remains stuck in a limited role. Many fans believe the team, now all but out of the playoff picture, should give Wright more opportunity to flourish.

Head coach Dan Bylsma—who famously led the Penguins to a Stanley Cup in 2009—still has work to do to bring the Kraken to that level of success. Yet Tuesday’s comeback win against one of his former clubs is an encouraging sign of the team’s potential. If Seattle can continue getting timely contributions from its rising stars and big saves from Daccord, there might be more surprise victories ahead—even if the standings say otherwise.