The Seattle Kraken shook off a shaky start in Buffalo on Saturday afternoon, roaring back from a two-goal deficit to defeat the Sabres 6-2. With the win, Seattle snapped a four-game losing streak and improved to a perfect 4-0-0 all-time in Buffalo. Not only did the Kraken erase an early hole, but they did so in dominant fashion—scoring six unanswered goals in a display that highlighted the team’s resilience and the growing importance of its younger talent.
A big part of that surge came courtesy of Kaapo Kakko, who stole the show in the third period with a pair of goals just 1 minute and 40 seconds apart, which became the fastest two goals by a single player in Kraken history. Kraken fans have been eager to see more from the young Finn, and Saturday’s performance was exactly the kind of spark head coach Dan Bylsma has been hoping for. Kakko’s ability to find open ice and fire shots with confidence proved crucial, quickly turning a slim 3-2 lead into a comfortable margin that the Sabres couldn’t overcome.
Kaapo Kakko likes doubles of things...so he got two goals. Just for funsies. First... #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/8tbIuAXecg
— Alison (@AlisonL) January 11, 2025
On the back end, Joey Daccord redeemed himself after a bit of a rough start. Returning from injury can often mean shaking off some rust, and Daccord initially looked uneasy when the Sabres jumped out to a 2-0 lead. However, he settled in nicely to make 33 saves on the night, blanking Buffalo for the final 42 minutes. His poise under pressure gave the Kraken the stability they needed to rally, while the offensive explosion at the other end ensured Seattle wouldn’t let another winnable game slip away.
Veterans like Oliver Bjorkstrand, Andre Burakovsky, and Brandon Tanev chipped in with goals, but the key takeaway remains the emergence of younger contributors like Kakko and defenseman Ryker Evans, who also got on the scoresheet. This is exactly what Seattle’s coaching staff and fan base have wanted to see—a glimpse of the club’s potential future coming to life on the ice.
The victory not only boosts morale but also reminds everyone that development and progress are top priorities as the season unfolds. Now, with momentum back on their side, the Kraken head to Detroit looking to build on Saturday’s statement win and continue nurturing their promising young core.