Duchene’s Two Goals and Overtime Assist Lift Stars to 4-3 Victory Over Kraken

Andrew McMann
Andrew McMann
4 Min Read
Dec 18, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Seattle Kraken left wing Tomas Tatar (90) and right wing Jordan Eberle (7) watch as a shot by right wing Eeli Tolvanen (not pictured) gets past Dallas Stars goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) for the game tying goal during the third period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Duchene scored twice and assisted on Thomas Harley’s overtime goal, leading the Dallas Stars to a 4-3 win against the Seattle Kraken on Monday night.

Jason Robertson also scored for the Stars, now 3-0-1 in their last four games.

“We knew we deserved it, and who knows whether we were going to get it or not?” Duchene said. “It’s a coin flip when you get to OT, but fortunately, we were able to get it done.”

The Kraken forced overtime with Eeli Tolvanen’s 6-on-5 goal, coming with just 21.8 seconds left in regulation.

Scott Wedgewood (7-1-2) emerged victorious in the backup goalie matchup, with both teams’ primary netminders injured. Wedgewood made 35 saves and overcame an early scare when he took a slap shot near his left collarbone.

“It stung like hell,” Wedgewood said. “It’s one of those ones where your Adam’s apple’s in the back of your throat, and you want to make sure you can breathe.”

Tomas Tatar and Matty Beniers each scored a goal and provided an assist for the Kraken, who have now lost 10 of their last 12 games (2-6-4). Joey Daccord (5-5-8) made 24 saves in his fourth consecutive start.

This game marked the first meeting between the teams since Dallas’ seven-game victory in the second round of last season’s Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“Really proud of the point that we earned. Again, disappointed we weren’t able to get the second point in overtime,” said Kraken coach Dave Hakstol, whose team came off a shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.

Duchene scored just 1:14 into the game, tapping in the puck on a 2-on-1 with Tyler Seguin. His second goal, and 10th of the season, came 53 seconds into a delayed penalty against the Kraken at 6:20 of the second period, giving Dallas a 3-1 lead.

Dallas initially took a 2-0 lead midway through the first with its second score on the rush. Robertson scored his 10th, assisted by Joe Pavelski after a pass from Roope Hintz at center ice.

Tatar, acquired from Colorado last Friday, scored on a rebound 32 seconds into the second period after Wedgewood saved a shot from Beniers, reducing the Kraken’s deficit to 2-1.

Beniers tied the game with his fifth goal of the season at 13:48 of the second period. Last season, Beniers scored 24 goals and won the Calder Trophy for NHL Rookie of the Year.

Wedgewood made consecutive starts for the first time this season, with Jake Oettinger sidelined week-to-week due to a lower-body injury sustained last Friday.

Philipp Grubauer, the Kraken’s primary goalie, was placed on injured reserve after suffering a lower-body injury during Saturday’s game.

Seattle forwards Jared McCann, the team leader with 14 goals, and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare both missed the third period due to lower-body injuries.

Kraken defenseman Adam Larsson played his 800th career NHL game.

Upcoming Games

  • Kraken: At the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday in the second stop on a four-game trip.
  • Stars: Host the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.