Shane Wright netted his first two-goal game in the NHL, leading the Seattle Kraken to a 3-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night. This win marked Seattle’s fourth victory in the past six games.
Wright, the fourth overall pick in the 2022 draft, also added an assist, bringing his tally to three goals in three games since being recalled from the AHL on Sunday.
“He was a confident player tonight. I thought he was a confident player with the puck, and he definitely did a good job on the defensive side as well,” Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said.
Matty Beniers also scored for the Kraken, who swept the four-game season series against the Ducks for the first time. Beniers, who won the Calder Trophy last season as the league’s top rookie, also reached his 100th career point.
Beniers thought he had achieved his 100th point Wednesday night against Los Angeles until a scoring change occurred.
“It’s been good. I’ve been playing around with many really good players for the last two and some years, so it’s just been fun,” Beniers said. “I wish we were in a lot better position than we are right now, but I think we’re just trying to finish this year out strong, then move forward next year.”
Philipp Grubauer made 16 saves, and Oliver Bjorkstrand added two assists for the Kraken.
Leo Carlsson scored for Anaheim with a highlight-reel goal. Carlsson, the second pick in the 2023 draft, became the 15th rookie this season to score at least 10 goals. Lukas Dostal made 24 saves for the Ducks.
“From where I stood on the bench, it was Leo Carlsson and then a huge gap to the rest of the Anaheim Ducks tonight,” coach Greg Cronin said. “We didn’t do much. We didn’t generate much. He was one guy that I felt tried to make something happen in every play.”
Wright redirected Bjorkstrand’s shot with 3:52 remaining in the first period. He then received a pass from Jaden Schwartz in front of the net and fired a snap shot home 2:29 into the second period.
“It was a great pass. It couldn’t have been a better spot for me, and all I did was finish it there,” Wright said.
The Kraken extended their lead to three goals nine minutes later when Beniers scored a power-play goal, the puck deflecting off his skate after a pass from Wright.
Carlsson got the Ducks on the board with 3:25 remaining in the second period. The 19-year-old Swede, playing in his 50th NHL game, took the puck off the boards, maneuvered it between his legs onto his stick, skated into the right faceoff circle, and fired a wrist shot into the top corner of the net.
Seattle defenseman Adam Larsson missed his first game in 343 consecutive games, the fourth-longest current streak in the league, as he is with his wife awaiting the birth of their first child.
UP NEXT
-
Kraken: Host the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday.
-
Ducks: Host the St. Louis Blues on Sunday.
