Kraken hold on late to top Oilers 4-3, get first division win

By Charles Hamaker

Seattle, WA – The Seattle Kraken were able to get their first pacific
division win on December 3rd, 2021 as they held off the Edmonton
Oilers by a score of 4-3. While the league’s leading scorer in Leon
Draisaitl and arguably the league’s best player Connor McDavid would
both score for the Oilers, Seattle would be able to hold Edmonton out
of goal when it mattered most.

The Kraken celebrate Colin Blackwell’s goal (Photo by Megan Connelly)

The key word for Seattle in this game would be response. Unlike
earlier this season when the Kraken would concede a goal early and
then flop for the remainder of the game, the team answered every
Edmonton goal. The Kraken would get strike first, thanks to a Yanni
Gourde one-timer just 49 seconds into the game. Leon Draisaitl, the
NHL’s leading scorer, would be left wide open as Seattle would puck
watch bringing the game to a 1-1 tie just minutes later. The former
Oiler Adam Larsson would answer for Seattle with a slapshot goal four
minutes later, answering his former teammate’s goal.

The game would be equalized once again with 11:48 to go in the
second, when Evan Bouchard of the Oilers would fire a slapshot that
would ricochet off of Vince Dunn’s shin and rattle into the goal. Seattle
would again answer Edmonton, this time it would be Colin Blackwell
with some tricky stick work to beat Oiler’s goaltender Stuart Skinner
with slightly under seven minutes to go. The Kraken would extend
their narrow lead courtesy of Alex Wennberg, who’s shot would slip
under Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner. The goal would give Seattle a four
to two lead heading into the final period two.

Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn looks to shoot the puck (Photo by Megan Connelly)

The Oilers would chip away at the Seattle lead when Connor McDavid
would redirect Evan Bouchard’s slapshot for the goal, sending it right
between the pads of Philipp Grubauer. Seattle’s starting goaltender
would be able to find some redemption with 7:07 left to go in the
period. Tyson Barrie of the Oilers would fire a slapshot from the blue
line that would clank off the goal and fall right in front of Jesse
Puljujarvi. Puljujarvi was a split second away from pushing the puck
into the net with his stick, but Philipp Grubauer would snag it with his
glove to preserve the Seattle lead. The Kraken would be able to hold
on for the remaining seven minutes, giving the team their first division
win.

Edmonton’s first two goals would come off of issues that Seattle has
been able to neutralize as of late, those being puck watching and
blocking their own goaltender. But as I mentioned earlier, Seattle
would respond each time and stand up to the Oilers, who sit at second
in the Pacific division currently. Being able to stay in the game and not
back down has been a big part as to why Seattle has wins over
Washington, Carolina, Florida, and now Edmonton in their last seven
contests.

Going back to that Washington game, the win over the Capitals had
the potential to be a building block for this team moving forward. I
believe that it is safe to say that’s the case, considering the teams that
Seattle has beat since the November 21st win over Washington, as
well as how the Kraken have won those games. Yanni Gourde and
Colin Blackwell spoke on how the team’s growth has shown as of late.

Kraken defenseman Haydn Fleury looks to push the puck along the boards (Photo by Megan Connelly)

“We’re a much more mature group right now, we’re making much
better decisions, we know what to do, we’re confident in our group, 3
and we have to keep pushing,” Yanni Gourde answered when asked
about the teams more offensive approach in recent games.

Colin Blackwell spoke about the team’s improvement, stating “We had
some adversity but we were able to weather the storm. In the
beginning of the season, that might’ve happened and we lose the
game. We have the identity rolling right now, all four lines are playing
well, and the D is blocking shots. We’re getting a lot of good efforts
from everybody, and that’s what it takes to win in this league.”

Edmonton’s Connor McDavid falls while trying to move the puck (Photo by Megan Connelly)

The Kraken welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins to town on Monday,
December 6th with a 7PM PST puck drop for their next contest.