Joey Daccord matched his own Seattle franchise record with 42 saves, including 20 in the first period, helping the Kraken fend off the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 on Wednesday night.
Daccord, who has started the Kraken’s last seven games, boasts a 3-1-3 record with a 1.86 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage during this stretch.
“He’s making timely saves, the ones he should, and some big ones too,” coach Dave Hakstol said. “These kinds of performances lift the team’s spirits and build confidence.”
Despite pulling goalie Cam Talbot with 2:52 remaining and gaining a power play after Seattle’s Will Borgen was called for high-sticking Kevin Fiala, the Kings couldn’t find an equalizer.
Daccord, who also made 42 saves against Carolina on Oct. 26, became the second NHL goalie this season to make at least 20 first-period saves without conceding a goal, joining Ottawa’s Joonas Korpisalo.
“It’s always nice to get off to a good start,” Daccord said. “Getting peppered with pucks helps you settle down quicker.”
Brandon Tanev and Jordan Eberle scored for Seattle, while Blake Lizotte notched his 100th career point with a third-period goal for Los Angeles. Talbot made 28 saves.
Tanev opened the scoring 5:19 into the second period with his third goal of the season, his first in 11 games. He stormed the net off a faceoff, knocking in his rebound after Talbot’s pad save.
Eberle extended the lead to 2-0 at 6:27 of the third on a breakaway, courtesy of a stretch pass from Matty Beniers. Eberle stayed onside, outpaced Mikey Anderson, and fired a snap shot into the upper left corner for his fourth goal of the season. Beniers has one goal and two assists in the last two games after a six-game scoreless streak.
“I think we were giving them a little bit too much respect in the first period, sitting back and waiting for something bad to happen,” Eberle said. “We turned that around.”
Lizotte got Los Angeles on the board with a short-handed goal at the eight-minute mark of the third period. Daccord misplayed a cross-ice pass to Seattle defenseman Justin Schultz, which bounced off Schultz’s skate. Lizotte intercepted and scored before Daccord could recover. Lizotte has five goals this season, including two short-handed.
Kings coach Todd McLellan highlighted the team’s power play struggles, going 0 for 4 with only one shot, as a key disappointment.
“Our entries were poor, and when we got into the zone, we were shooting pucks into people. We moved like turtles, thinking instead of playing,” McLellan said.
Upcoming Games
- Kraken: At Anaheim on Saturday night.
- Kings: Host Calgary on Saturday night.
