What started as a game filled with early concerns for Seattle quickly turned into a statement victory. After falling behind 2-0 in the first period, the Kraken stormed back with six unanswered goals, including a commanding four-goal second period, securing a 6-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
A rough start turns into a statement
Seattle struggled early as Chicago capitalized on a power play goal from Connor Bedard and a deflection by Tyler Bertuzzi. However, the Kraken wasted no time responding, with Adam Larsson cutting the lead in half less than a minute after Bertuzzi’s goal.
That quick answer set the stage for an explosive second period. Jordan Eberle got things rolling by tying the game just under six minutes in, followed quickly by Jared McCann giving Seattle its first lead of the night. Matty Beniers and Shane Wright would add to the scoring frenzy, turning a once-worrisome game into a decisive 5-2 advantage heading into the final period.
Seattle remains the only perfect team in the NHL when leading after two periods, improving to 16-0-0 in such situations.
Balanced effort powers Seattle’s comeback
Seattle’s comeback effort was a complete team effort, with seven different players tallying assists throughout the night. Chandler Stephenson, Andre Burakovsky, and Jaden Schwartz all contributed, while Larsson had a particularly strong showing, picking up a goal and two assists.
Goaltender Joey Daccord, who has faced challenges in recent weeks, delivered a strong bounce-back performance, stopping 27 of 29 shots for a .931 save percentage.
Shane Wright continues his breakout
While the scoring was spread out, Wright had the biggest impact, notching two goals and extending his impressive stretch of play. His second goal in the third period, assisted by Adam Larsson and Andre Burakovsky, sealed the win and further established Wright as one of the most exciting young players on this Kraken squad.
Wright’s production continues to stand out when considering his limited ice time. Despite averaging just 13:44 minutes of ice time per game, he now sits tied for third on the team in both goals and points. Last night, he logged a career-high 17:42, showing that head coach Dan Bylsma is gaining more confidence in him down the stretch.
Looking ahead
The Kraken have no time to dwell on this win, as they head to Minnesota for the second half of a back-to-back against the Wild. Seattle has yet to win the second game of a back-to-back all season, making this a critical opportunity to break that trend.
With just 13 games left, Seattle remains eight points out of a playoff spot. While the postseason is unlikely, the continued development of players like Wright and Beniers will be crucial for the team’s future.