Kraken vs. Canucks 1st Period Recap

For the first time since he was injured here Dec. 9 vs. Tampa Bay, Philipp Grubauer gets a home start in goal. His only other appearance was backstopping a 2-1 shootout victory over the Islanders in New York on Feb. 13.

Jamile Oleksiak, Eeli Tolvanen and Will Borgen all block shots on the same Vancouver shift. But nobody's in front of J.T. Miller standing on the doorstep to give the Canucks a 1-0 lead at 4:35.

It didn't help that for much of the shift, Grubauer was minus his goal stick. We know one group of fans in the building who are pleased by Miller's 29th goal of the season.

Bidding for a second goal in the period, Miller shoots wide on a shorthanded breakaway.

Three seconds after the Elias Lindholm high-sticking penalty ends, but before he can rejoin the play, Vince Dunn's long range shot finds the net behind Thatcher Demko.

Jared McCann's assist extends his personal points streak to six games. Though Andrei Burakovsky draws the second helper, it was Alex Wennberg in front who obstructed Demko's vision.

The final four minutes of the period belong to Seattle. One shift is so dominant that the Kraken are able to change personnel while maintaining offensive pressure. Oliver Bjorkstrand has one ripper saved by Demko; another one bangs off the crossbar.

Three seconds before period's end, more Kraken pressure forces Nils Hoglander into a hook of Jordan Eberle. The Kraken, who outshot the Canucks 9-6, will have fresh ice for their power play to start the 2nd.