From Woozy To Wow! Matty Beniers Scores Key Goal Tuesday Vs. Islanders

If Matty Beniers doesn't get up from where he was pulverized in the first period Tuesday, the Seattle Kraken most likely lose to the New York Islanders.

Beniers not only rose, he retained the presence of mind to stay on the ice. That allowed him the chance to score in a game the Kraken eventually won in a shootout, 2-1 at UBS Arena.

The key sequence began with a thunderous check in the corner of the Kraken offensive zone by Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock.

Like Beniers, Pulock is a former 1st round draft pick and stands 6-foot-2. Unlike Beniers, Pulock is 214 pounds and 29 years old, giving him a 36 pound, eight year advantage.

"It definitely hurt," Beniers acknowledged after the game. "He got me off balance; I went into the boards pretty hard."

Though legal, Kraken teammate Jordan Eberle didn't like seeing Beniers disoriented on the ice from the hit. Eberle confronted Pulock at the Islanders blueline to register his displeasure.

In the Seattle zone, meanwhile, Jared McCann retrieved the puck. To his no doubt surprise and delight, Beniers has returned to his feet. But from deep in the near left corner, he's migrated to the far right wing in the neutral zone. What's he doing there?

"I was just trying to get off the ice," Beniers explained with a smile. "I was out of it a little bit." However, it's amazing the way a scoring chance in open ice can clear the head of a goal-scoring center. Matty abandoned his planned route to the bench when McCann sent the puck his way.

"I was fortunate to be there. I saw the opportunity and said, 'I'm not that hurt.'" By now, both Beniers and assembled reporters are laughing.

Beniers flies into the zone, unleashing a laser destined for inside the left post. New York goalie Ilya Sorokin gets a piece, but not enough to prevent Beniers' 7th goal of the season, and first in seven games.

Eberle's earlier distraction of Pulock had an unanticipated benefit. The defenseman wasn't in position to defend Beniers' entry to the zone. "The lane was definitely there," confirmed Beniers.

As it turned out, that 1st period tally would be the only goal Seattle would score. Also as it turned out, the only goal they needed.

The Kraken nursed a 1-1 tie all the way to a shootout. Tomas Tatar scored, while Philipp Grubauer, making his first appearance since Dec. 9, stopped all three Isles shooters to cement a badly needed 2-1 Kraken victory.