Vince Dunn recorded a goal and two assists as the Seattle Kraken opened their season with a 6-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.
Matty Beniers added a goal and an assist, while Jared McCann finished with three assists. Jordan Eberle, Frederick Gaudreau, Chandler Stephenson and Kaapo Kakko also scored as Seattle received contributions throughout its lineup.
Joey Daccord made 24 saves and added an assist for the Kraken. Ryan Strome scored Calgary’s only goal, while Dustin Wolf stopped 26 shots in the Flames’ final home opener at the Saddledome.
Eberle Opens Scoring on Power Play
Seattle needed less than 10 minutes to take control.
Eberle opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 9:10 of the first period.
The Kraken quickly doubled their advantage.
Just 32 seconds later, Dunn found the net to make it 2-0 before Calgary had much time to recover from the opening goal.
Dunn’s early contribution set the tone for his three-point performance.
Seattle continued generating opportunities as the period progressed, while Daccord kept Calgary from cutting into the lead.
The Kraken then added another goal in the closing seconds.
Gaudreau Makes It 3-0
Gaudreau scored with 30 seconds remaining in the first period, extending Seattle’s advantage to three goals.
The late goal sent the Kraken into the intermission with a 3-0 lead and completed a productive opening period.
Gaudreau’s goal also continued his success against Calgary.
He extended his point streak against the Flames to six consecutive games.
Seattle had established control at both ends of the ice.
The Kraken generated three goals while preventing Calgary from solving Daccord.
Wolf kept the Flames within reach during the second period.
The Calgary goaltender produced his most notable save when Eberle nearly scored his second goal of the night.
Wolf Denies Eberle
Seattle remained ahead 3-0 through the second period despite creating additional opportunities.
Late in the period, Wolf misjudged a deflection off the backboards, leaving Eberle with a chance near the net.
The goaltender recovered quickly.
Wolf stretched across and gloved Eberle’s attempt, preventing the Kraken forward from adding his second goal.
The save helped Calgary keep the deficit at three entering the final period.
The Flames, however, could not turn the stop into offensive momentum.
Seattle soon broke the game open.
Stephenson Scores on Breakaway
Stephenson increased the Kraken’s lead early in the third period.
Calgary defensemen Zach Whitecloud and Yan Kuznetsov ran into trouble when Whitecloud clipped skates with his defensive partner and fell.
The mistake created a breakaway opportunity for Stephenson.
He converted the chance to make it 4-0.
Seattle struck again less than a minute later.
Beniers beat Wolf to extend the lead to five goals and remove any realistic chance of a Calgary comeback.
The goal gave Beniers his second point of the night after he had already contributed an assist.
Kraken Protect Daccord
Daccord remained in position for a shutout deep into the third period.
The Seattle goaltender stopped Calgary’s first 24 shots and received significant help from the defense in front of him.
The Kraken blocked 20 shots during the game compared with eight for the Flames.
Calgary finally broke through at 16:35 of the third.
Strome scored to end Daccord’s shutout bid and reduce Seattle’s lead to 5-1.
The response from the Kraken came almost immediately.
Kakko scored only 34 seconds later, restoring the five-goal advantage and completing the scoring at 6-1.
Daccord finished with 24 saves and also contributed an assist.
Dunn Leads Balanced Seattle Attack
Dunn’s three-point night highlighted a balanced offensive performance.
The defenseman scored Seattle’s second goal and added two assists.
McCann matched him with three points, all on assists.
Beniers finished with a goal and an assist, while six different Kraken players found the net.
Eberle started the scoring on the power play before Dunn doubled the advantage.
Gaudreau’s late first-period goal created a three-goal cushion.
Stephenson and Beniers then scored less than a minute apart early in the third before Kakko provided the final response after Strome’s goal.
The production gave Seattle plenty of support for Daccord.
Seattle Controls Defensive Side
The Kraken’s performance went beyond their six goals.
Seattle blocked 20 shots, more than twice Calgary’s total of eight.
That commitment helped Daccord keep the Flames scoreless until the closing minutes.
The Kraken also managed the game effectively after building their three-goal first-period lead.
Calgary could not reduce the deficit during the second, and Seattle quickly expanded it when play resumed in the third.
Even after Strome ended the shutout attempt, Kakko answered within 34 seconds.
The quick response ensured Calgary never developed late momentum.
Flames Close Saddledome Home-Opener Era With Loss
The game carried additional significance for Calgary as the franchise played its final season opener at the Saddledome.
The Flames are scheduled to move to Scotia Place next season.
Their final opener at the longtime arena quickly turned difficult after Seattle scored three times in the first period.
Wolf made 26 saves and produced several strong stops, including his late second-period recovery against Eberle.
Calgary still could not contain Seattle’s balanced attack.
The Flames also opened the season without winger Jonathan Huberdeau because of a hip injury.
Seattle was missing right winger Matthew Samoskevich with an upper-body injury and center Jake O’Brien with a lower-body injury.
Kraken Start Season With Road Win
Seattle’s season began with production from its top players and contributions throughout the lineup.
Dunn and McCann each recorded three points, Beniers had two and six players scored.
The Kraken never trailed after Eberle’s power-play goal.
Dunn’s goal 32 seconds later established early separation, and Gaudreau’s late first-period score put Seattle firmly in control.
Daccord and the Kraken defense protected that advantage before the offense added three more goals in the third.
The 6-1 result gave Seattle a strong start before continuing its road trip against another Pacific Division opponent.
Up Next
The Flames travel to Vancouver to face the Canucks on Saturday.
The Kraken remain on the road and visit the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.
