Carson Soucy and the Seattle Kraken overcame a sluggish start to earn their first win streak in nearly two months.
Soucy recorded the first two-goal game of his career, and Calle Jarnkrok scored in the third period, leading the Kraken to a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.
Seattle shook off a rough beginning, giving up Tomas Hertl’s 21st goal just 38 seconds into the game. The Kraken, however, rebounded to win consecutive games for the first time since November 27 and 29 against Florida and Buffalo. This victory followed their shootout win over Chicago on Monday, which snapped a nine-game losing streak.
“It’s hard to say when you come out slow after a win last game, but I think we just looked at ourselves and said that’s unacceptable as a team,” Soucy said.
Soucy scored at 4:18 and 8:25 of the second period, and Jarnkrok added what turned out to be the game-winner at 6:27 of the third period.
Seattle has won both matchups against the Sharks in its inaugural season.
“I give our guys a lot of credit to be able to step up in the second and third period and find a way to get it done when we weren’t at our best,” Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said.
Timo Meier, who scored five franchise-record goals in San Jose’s previous game, added a power-play goal midway through the third to bring the Sharks within one.
San Jose had multiple power play opportunities in the third period but couldn’t capitalize. Seattle successfully killed off two penalties after Meier’s goal and withstood another power play in the final minute, even after the Sharks pulled goalie Adin Hill for an extra skater.
“We got a good start and took the lead, but after the first, we stopped playing,” Hertl said. “They were all over us, they managed the game better, and we couldn’t find a way. It’s a tough loss because everybody knows what is coming, the last five games before the break.”
Seattle goaltender Philipp Grubauer made 22 saves and delivered one of his stronger performances, turning away several dangerous chances from the Sharks. His best save came with a glove stop on a breakaway by Meier early in the second period.
Hill made 16 saves for the Sharks.
Soucy’s first goal was his first since December 18. After a flurry of San Jose pressure around the Kraken net, Soucy flicked a wrist shot past Hill on the blocker side to tie the game.
The goal shifted momentum in Seattle’s favor. Ryan Donato appeared to give the Kraken a 2-1 lead at 6:48, but San Jose successfully challenged the play for offside, nullifying the goal after a video review.
Less than two minutes later, Soucy flipped another wrist shot past Hill to give Seattle a 2-1 lead. Jarnkrok’s 100th career goal off a great pass from Morgan Geekie behind the net extended the lead to 3-1.
“We started off flat, but we noticed it this time, and we took advantage of the opportunity to say, ‘Hey … let’s go change the game’s momentum,’” Donato said.
Grubauer also benefited from the goalposts. Erik Karlsson had an open net in the first period, but his tipped shot hit the post, and Grubauer covered. During a San Jose power play in the second, Brent Burns’ shot from the point was tipped by Logan Couture but hit the post and stayed out.
Game Notes:
- Mark Giordano received a major penalty for fighting in the second period after dropping the gloves with San Jose’s Adam Raska. It was Giordano’s first fighting major since 2018.
- Seattle D Jamie Oleksiak was out with a non-COVID-19-related illness.
- Geekie was activated off injured reserve, and Alexander True was returned to Seattle’s taxi squad. Geekie missed the previous four games with an upper-body injury.
- San Jose F Alexander Barabanov assisted on Hertl’s goal in his first game back from the COVID-19 protocol.
UP NEXT:
- Sharks: Host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.
- Kraken: Host the St. Louis Blues on Friday night.
