Kraken Make Statement With 5-2 Victory Over Conference-Leading Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks strutted into Climate Pledge Arena Thursday with the NHL's best record.

They limped out with their fourth straight loss, as the Seattle Kraken used a four point night from Jared McCann and a suffocating defense to fashion a 5-2 statement victory.

In its last three games, Seattle has beaten both NHL conference leaders, the Canucks and Boston Bruins.

The Kraken also won the season series from the Canucks 2-1. Considering that Vancouver has lost 16 times in regulation all season, Seattle's playoff push may have more push than previously shown.

1st Period

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.

Jamie 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 Andre 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.

2nd Period

The Kraken need just 21 seconds on that fresh sheet to take the lead. Jared McCann's 25th is a beautiful combination of finesse and power. He takes a pass at the top of the left circle, spins completely around, then powers a shot under the crossbar for a 2-1 Seattle advantage.

One minute later, Seattle's Brandon Tanev and Vancouver's Conor Garland, who exchanged shoves and words in the 1st period, decide to exchange fists. Actually, it's more like Garland eating Tanev uppercuts.

The Canucks' Sam Lafferty gets credit for a double deflection goal which knots the game 2-2 at 4:56.

McCann, who's feeling it tonight, has his power play stuff attempt snuffed by Demko. Officially, the Kraken are now 1-for-3 on the PP, the Canucks 0-for-2.

Eeli Tolvanen evens the minor penalties at three a side by high-sticking Quinn Hughes - and fortunate it's just a two minute call. The 17th ranked Kraken PK foils the 12th ranked Canucks PP again.

Hockey note: when your d-partner calls for the puck, give it to him. Justin Schultz bangs his stick on the ice, so Brian Dumoulin obliges with a cross-ice pass along the blue line. Schultz does the rest, restoring the Kraken lead 3-2 at 13:29.

Jordan Eberle, who picked up an assist on Schultz's score, gets one of his own at 14:40. If at first you don't succeed - Eberle didn't, his close-in try saved by Demko - shoot, shoot again. Eberle did, his 11th, for a 4-2 Seattle lead.

This time it's Schultz earning one assist; McCann gets the other, now a three-point night and counting.

When Matty Beniers takes a late-period interference penalty, the best scoring chance is a McCann dipsy-doo and shot wide shorthanded.

Shots in the period are 12-7 Kraken, 21-12 after 40. That's right, the NHL's top team has been held to 12 SOG through two periods.

3rd Period

The Kraken kill the final 16 seconds of Beniers' penalty, and are now 4-for-4 on the PK. Vancouver hasn't scored on its last 18 power plays against Seattle. (The home team would be well advised not to attempt to extend that streak.)

Unofficially, the Kraken have allowed the Canucks six SOG in the last half of the 2nd period and first half of the 3rd period combined. Most of those were more or less grade "J" or less.

That's Kraken defense, baby. Seattle has risen to 9th in the NHL in goals-against per game (2.82).

Part of their formula is continued aggressiveness pursuing the puck in the offensive and neutral zones, as well as on defense. In fact, Matty Beniers and Eberle both had point-blank scoring chances but were denied by Demko with six minutes remaining.

The Canucks pulled their goalie for a sixth attacker with four minutes left. McCann shot wide of the vacated cage, but picked up his fourth point when Eberle potted the rebound off the end boards. Eberle's 2nd of the night gives the Kraken a 5-2 lead at 17:51. That's the way it ended.

With St. Louis also winning tonight, Seattle remains three points out of the second Western Conference wild card slot. They did leapfrog Minnesota by one point in the West; the Wild provide the opposition as the Kraken homestand continues Saturday.