For Second Straight Game, Kraken Don't Have A Shot In 3-1 Loss To Devils

For the final 31 games of the regular season, the Seattle Kraken will almost exclusively play two kinds of opponents; the NHL elite, and teams like Seattle desperate to secure a playoff spot.

The latter was the case Monday night at Prudential Center. New Jersey hosted Seattle, both six points out of a wild card slot in their conferences when the evening began.

For the second consecutive game coming off the All-Star break, Seattle seemed unable to muster the necessary urgency, allowing the first three goals and ultimately dropping a 3-1 decision to the Devils.

Seattle has won two of its last 10 games.

Just as happened to the Kraken in a 3-2 loss Saturday in Philadelphia, Seattle had too much - time in the penalty box, and too little - shots on net against a little-used opposing goaltender.

1st Period

The Kraken are playing back-to-back games against the Metro teams (Flyers and Devils) which will meet Saturday in a Stadium Series game at Met Life Stadium.

Both teams successfully kill penalties in the first nine minutes. The Kraken (power play league rank: 16) had two PP shots, the Devils (league rank: 9) had three.

Joey Daccord has the Kraken net for the 22nd time in the last 24 Seattle games. Why? Because among netminders who've played at least 18 games, he's 4th in both save percentage and goals-against average.

One Kraken jumps off the ice, two Kraken jump on; that's not allowed. The Devils make Seattle pay for the mental mistake. Tyler Taffoli's shot deflects off Brandon Tanev, then the right post before going in at 13:36.

Awkward collisions take two Seattle defensemen temporarily off the ice. Vince Dunn recovers quickly, Brian Dumoulin doesn't.

Eric Haula skates unobstructed down the right wing. Daccord's right pad has the answer.

Shots are 12-7 New Jersey in the period, goals 1-0 Jersey.

2nd Period

Kraken defenseman Dumoulin is done for the night, reducing Seattle to five healthy defensemen. One of those is Ryker Evans, in the lineup in place of Justin Schultz, out for personal reasons.

51 seconds into the period, Daccord moves off his left post anticipating a pass to the middle. But Jack Hughes, 1st overall draft choice in 2019, doesn't pass - his shot from a severe angle glances off Daccord and in for a 2-0 New Jersey lead.

The replay shows how Hughes threaded the needle from below the goal line - off Daccord's shoulder and then his mask. He's been victimized by strange bounces on the first two Devils goals.

New Jersey's Dawson Mercer makes it 3-zip at 4:54. Timo Meier walks around Evans; Daccord stops his shot, but the rebound lands on Mercer's blade and he doesn't miss.

Although Daccord has been beaten three times, he remains mentally sharp. Bang-bang saves on Jack Hughes and Eric Haula keep the score from ballooning. Same with a big stop on Ondrej Palat, and another on Nico Hischier.

Even so, don't be surprised if we see backup goalie Philipp Grubauer in relief at some point, just to wake up Seattle skaters.

Seattle's Kailer Yamamoto takes a Meier stick to the groin. A penalty is called - on Yamamoto, apparently for roughing Meier's stick with his groin.

On the Jersey power play, Daccord makes six - count 'em, six - saves. The seventh shot, by Simon Nemec, makes it 4-0 - except no it doesn't. Seattle wins a goalie challenge because Haula took Daccord's feet out from under him, negating the goal.

With eight minutes remaining in the middle period, shots are 15-0 - you read right, 15-0 - Devils.

The Kraken finally register a shot, and it's a dandy, Yanni Gourde on a breakaway. But Nico Daws, to this point the loneliest man in Newark, makes a big save.

On a late Kraken power play, the puck squeezes through Daws and lays inches from the goal line - but no more.

3rd Period

Alex Wennberg's trip is Seattle's fifth minor penalty. They committed four against the Flyers. Although New Jersey doesn't extend its lead, the PK uses two minutes Seattle won't have to mount a comeback.

Another parallel to the last Kraken game in Philadelphia: not enough pressure against a reserve goalie. They put just 19 shots on Cal Petersen, playing his fourth game this season Saturday. Tonight, Daws is making his ninth appearance, and for large portions of the game, he could have done his taxes.

One of the five Seattle defensemen, Will Borgen, fires an 83 mph dart inside the far left post for his first goal in 14 games. Seattle crawls within 3-1 at 10:00.

Energized by the goal, Seattle peppered Daws with scoring chances from Jared McCann, Jaden Schwartz, former Devil Adam Larsson, and Eeli Tolvanen. Daws stopped them all.

Finally showing the desperation missing in the first two periods, Seattle took seven consecutive shots. That would give them a deceptive 13-8 edge in 3rd period SOG. Shots for the game were 37-28 New Jersey.

Pulling Daccord for an extra attacker with 1:51 left added to the shot total, and that's all. A rested, healthy Kraken team has lost its offensive way, and will try to revive its fading playoff hopes Tuesday at the Islanders.