Kraken get win over Sharks in final home game of Inaugural season
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – The Seattle Kraken sent the fans home happy with a 3-0 win over the San Jose Sharks in the final home game of their inaugural season. Seattle netminder Chris Driedger recorded the first home shutout at Climate Pledge Arena, saving 24 shots. The Kraken got the arena jumping early with two goals in the opening period, never looking back. Coming off of a back-to-back, the Sharks lacked any energy, and failed to ever really put the pressure on Seattle.
The Kraken got out of the gates hot, as alternate captains Yanni Gourde and Adam Larsson hammered goals past Sharks goaltender Kaapo Kähkönen. Gourde himself had said the morning of that the team needed to come out and “show up” for the Seattle faithful. The Kraken dominated the shots, putting three times as many attempts on net than San Jose. Seattle came out and played to their full potential, something that we have seen only a few times this season. When they have played to that level, thought, special moments have been made. Alternate captain Yanni Gourde reflected on the atmosphere during the game.
“The cheering, tonight’s game was amazing. The energy, everything was phenomenal. They’ve been great to us the whole season. We really appreciate they’re support, sometimes it was tough, and they still stuck with us. They were amazing again tonight. It was great to get the win in front of our fans for the final time this season, ” Gourde remarked.
On top of their first period, the Kraken kept the intensity up. Second period collapses had played a part in every single game of Seattle’s five-game losing streak. The Kraken were able to kept their foot on the gas pedal and play with focus all game long. While Seattle did not score in the second period, a huge penalty kill gave the team momentum and got the crowd all the way turned up. Seattle’s special teams have been a negative area all season, but they were able to lock down the Sharks in the final home game of the season. Seattle head coach Dave Hakstol reflected on the penalty kill.
“That’s what the kill can do for you. That’s what a good kill can do for you. Borgen, Soucy, Sheahan were out there for the majority, really the whole five on three and they did a great job… everything was from the top or the outside,” Hakstol reflected.
While the inaugural season for Seattle’s NHL team has been somewhat of a disappointment, the small victories at times have felt massive. The Kraken have made a big impression on the community, and have definitely made hockey a mainstay once again in the Emerald City. Seattle has a good base to work on, draft capital and cap space to use this offseason in order to improve their roster for the 2022-2023 campaign. All of that, with an incredible home atmosphere to boot, makes Seattle and Climate Pledge Arena the place to be once again during the winter.
The Kraken will close out their inaugural season on May 1st, 2022 on the road in Winnipeg. Seattle takes on the Jets to close out their season with an 11AM puck drop.