Carson Soucy netted two goals, and Daniel Sprong scored in his debut with Seattle to lead the Kraken to a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday night.
Soucy opened and closed a five-goal second period, while Morgan Geekie added a goal in the third to secure the Kraken’s third win in four games and their first victory over Arizona in three meetings.
“I’m just trying to make the most of the opportunity,” said Soucy, who set a career-high with nine goals and stepped up on the power play after captain Mark Giordano was traded on Monday.
“Losing Gio is tough, but I’m just trying to contribute and help the team get a win. You have to take the opportunity and make the most of it.”
Soucy’s go-ahead goal late in the second period came just seven seconds after the Coyotes killed a penalty but before they could reset their defense.
Nick Schmaltz and Nick Ritchie scored for the Coyotes, who have now lost three straight after winning six of seven in their best stretch of the season.
Sprong, acquired from Washington at Monday’s trade deadline, scored his ninth goal of the season in his first game with the Kraken, having played 14 minutes for the Capitals just two days earlier.
“I just felt good to be out there after yesterday’s crazy day,” said Sprong. “I know I can shoot the puck. I got an opportunity and made the most of it.”
Philipp Grubauer made 23 saves for the Kraken, who had allowed five goals in each of their previous two losses to Arizona.
Arizona goalie Karel Vejmelka made 35 saves in his first game since signing a three-year contract extension worth about $8 million on Monday.
“The group worked hard,” said Seattle coach Dave Hakstol.
After a scoreless first period with few scoring chances, the teams combined for five goals in the second, including three in just over a minute.
Schmaltz’s 19th goal on a power play kicked off the flurry at 8:11, assisted by a backhand feed from Clayton Keller. After Haydn Fleury was penalized for cross-checking Keller behind the Kraken net, Arizona had the man advantage.
Eighteen seconds later, Soucy tied the game with a shot from the deep slot that found its way through a screen and hit the crossbar before bouncing in.
“I try to get it there when I see numbers in front,” Soucy said. “Their goalie didn’t see it. Great job by our forwards getting to the net.”
Ritchie restored Arizona’s lead at 9:13 with a goal on a breakaway, set up by a cross-ice pass from Loui Eriksson.
Sprong’s power-play goal tied the game again at 13:39 of the second, as his wrist shot from the top of the right circle beat Vejmelka.
“You can see it’s a weapon,” Hakstol said of Sprong’s shot. “We hadn’t got much going on the power play, so it was great for him to come down the wing and find the net.”
Soucy then gave the Kraken a 3-2 lead with a low wrist shot from the right circle.
Geekie added an insurance goal at 12:38 of the third period, extending the lead to 4-2.
“I saw a lack of fight,” Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny said. “We have a lot of frustration right now. We just need to regroup and push forward.”
Game Notes
The Coyotes signed Jack McBain to a two-year, entry-level contract on Monday after acquiring him in a trade with Minnesota. Kraken defenseman Haydn Fleury left the game early in the second period with an undisclosed injury and did not return. Sprong became the first in-season trade acquisition in Seattle’s history and is currently the only active NHL player from the Netherlands. Coyotes forward Phil Kessel played in his 963rd consecutive game, one short of tying Doug Jarvis for the second-longest streak in league history.
UP NEXT
- Kraken: At the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night.
- Coyotes: At the Calgary Flames on Friday night.
