After enduring a month of increasing frustration, it was fitting that Joonas Donskoi, who hadn’t scored all season, played a key role in breaking the Seattle Kraken’s losing streak.
Ryan Donato scored the tying goal early in the third period. Donskoi netted the deciding goal in the shootout, leading the Kraken to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday, snapping their nine-game losing streak.
Donato pulled Seattle even at 2 with a goal at 2:02 of the third period. He also scored in the second round of the shootout, followed by Donskoi, who scored the winner past Marc-Andre Fleury despite not having a regulation goal this season in 38 games.
“Sometimes during that streak, it felt like no matter how hard we tried, we were not able to get wins, and then the pressure started building,” Donskoi said. “I think getting that win out of the way now, it’s a little bit of a relief and I’m sure we’re going to get some energy from this moving forward.”
It was Seattle’s first win since Dec. 14 against San Jose, its first home win since Dec. 3 against Edmonton, and the first time this season they won after trailing entering the third period. The Kraken are now 1-16-1 when trailing after two periods.
Seattle goaltender Philipp Grubauer made 25 saves, facing just six shots in the third period and overtime combined.
“We were really close in the last couple of games,” Grubauer said. “We didn’t get that bounce, where maybe today got that bounce.”
Fleury was outstanding for most of the game, making 35 saves, including 14 in the third period alone. He made a brilliant glove save on Jared McCann during a power play early in the third and later stopped McCann on Seattle’s first regulation penalty shot in franchise history after McCann was tripped by Riley Stillman.
Alex Wennberg hit the post in the final seconds of overtime for Seattle.
“It’s unbelievable sometimes. Actually, today I was just sitting on the bench watching the replay like, ‘What is he doing out there?’’ Chicago’s Dominic Kubalik said of Fleury. ”It’s unbelievable. I’m not saying I’m expecting it to go in, but somehow … he was amazing. He gave us the point.”
Both goals Fleury allowed were partly due to defensive lapses. Vince Dunn’s goal in the second period deflected off Stillman. Donato’s equalizer in the third came when Fleury made the initial save but was knocked over by Caleb Jones, allowing Donato to score on the rebound.
“I was thinking pass right away, but you only get so many chances in a game where you’re in the clear, and you have tons of time and space to get a good shot off,” Donato said.
Kubalik scored his ninth of the season on a breakaway at 12:06 of the second period after Donato lost the puck in Chicago’s zone. Erik Gustafsson found Kubalik with a long stretch pass behind Seattle’s defense.
Chicago capitalized on a power play later in the second. Patrick Kane’s slap-pass was tipped by Kubalik, and while Grubauer made the initial save, the puck fell to Brandon Hagel, who scored into the open net.
EXPANSION STREAKS
Seattle avoided becoming the fourth expansion team since 1991 with a losing streak of at least 10 games. San Jose lost 13 straight during the 1991-92 season. Ottawa had losing streaks of 11 twice and 14 games during the 1992-93 season. Atlanta had losing streaks of 10 and 12 games during the 1999-2000 season.
Game Notes
- Seattle claimed F Karson Kuhlman off waivers from Boston and placed F Morgan Geekie on injured reserve due to an upper-body injury. Kuhlman has appeared in 19 games with two points.
- Chicago D Seth Jones tested out of the COVID-19 protocol but did not travel to Seattle at the last minute to play significant minutes, interim coach Derek King said.
- Fleury was named the NHL’s second star of the week after going 3-0-0 with a .957 save percentage and a shutout last week.
UP NEXT
- Blackhawks: Chicago hosts Minnesota on Friday.
- Kraken: Seattle hosts San Jose on Thursday.
