Kraken Defeat East-Leading Bruins For Second Time With 4-3 Shootout Win

For two periods, the Seattle Kraken and Boston Bruins sleepwalked through a game neither seemed to be able to control.

The 3rd period, overtime and the shootout provided all the excitement which had previously been denied the Climate Pledge Arena crowd.

A goal that wasn't, a hat trick that wasn't, shots off posts, and when it was finally over, a most improbable 4-3 shootout Kraken win over the best team in the East.

Phillip Grubauer had a third straight strong start after two months on the shelf. He made 29 saves, and stopped all three Bruins shooters in the skills competition.

Kailer Yamamoto had the decisive shootout goal for Seattle.

1st Period

"You starting tonight?" "Me neither."

The goalie who does start for Seattle faces two early indignities. First, Boston's Anthony Richard, heading up-ice through the crease, takes Philipp Grubauer's legs out from under him.

The pain gets worse at 5:53. A Kevin Shattenkirk head-man pass splits Kraken defenders Will Borgen and Jamie Oleksiak, springing David Pastrnak on a breakaway. Pastrnak beats Grubauer glove-hand high for a 1-0 Boston lead, "Pasta's" 700th NHL point, 37th goal of the season.

Shots in the period favored Boston 11-7. How it's going for the Kraken right now:

2nd Period

The game's first power play belongs to Seattle, a Justin Brazeau hooking call at 3:03. The Bruins' penalty kill is ranked 10th, the Kraken PP ranked 17th.

There's no defense for what Boston goalie Linus Ullmark does next. Trying to clear the puck up the slot - something a goalie should never attempt unless he's Joey Daccord - Ullmark fires right into a quick-closing Jordan Eberle.

The puck falls at Eberle's feet. He pokes it into the unguarded net for his 4th goal in three games, and a 1-1 tie at 4:45.

I know it's baseball spring training, but Ullmark clearly needs more time working on his swing.

Energized by the gift, Seattle pressures Boston into overlapping minors. Neither power play, including 23 seconds of 5-on-3, nets a lead Seattle goal.

Grubauer makes his finest save on a former teammate. The puck finds ex-Kraken Morgan Geekie in the low slot. He shovels a backhand netward, but Grubauer clutches it to his chest.

Pastrnak's second of the night, 38th of the season, completes a pretty Boston passing play and allows the visitors to retake the lead 2-1 at 17:08.

The Bruins take the last nine shots of the period, and lead in SOG 21-12 after 40 minutes.

3rd Period

The final period has consistently been the best Kraken period on this homestand. So it is again tonight. Seattle puts the Bruins under relentless pressure, eight consecutive shots on goal.

Their ninth of the period ties the game 2-2. Defenseman Vince Dunn takes an Andre Burakovsky pass and fires it home at 5:29.

Dunn has goals in three straight games, and 11 on the season.

Boston's Brad Marchand has two grade-A chances from Grubauer's doorstep. The Kraken netminder saves them both, the second with a glove save on the goal line.

On Seattle's 4th power play, insane Kraken pressure leads to an Alex Wennberg shot from in close off the right post.

As the penalty to Morgan Geekie ends, he weaves behind the Seattle defense. Geekie's initial shot is saved, but he sweeps the puck in while falling and making contact with Grubauer. Is it a 3-2 Bruins lead at 10:37?

The Kraken, with really nothing to lose, challenge for goalie interference. They win the challenge - no goal - and the Kraken avoid a minor penalty as well. Another look:

For the second time, the Kraken have been the recipients of good fortune. At 14:30, they make sure it doesn't go to waste. Oliver Bjorkstrand in front gets his stick on a Borgen blast for his 14th goal and a 3-2 Seattle lead.

Jordan Eberle trips Pastrnak at 15:15. Seven seconds before the penalty expires, the Bruins tie the game 3-3.

Originally, it appears Pastrnak's shot cleanly beat Grubauber, and Boston fans litter the ice with hat trick hats. However, Charlie Coyle is credited with a deflecting goal, meaning all those lids were prematurely flipped.

At 17:33, Dunn is clipped by the stick of Danton Heinen (a Heinen-stick penalty?). Seattle can win the game on the power play.

But they don't. Seattle and Boston, which have lost a combined 25 games in overtime/shootouts, are going to overtime.

Overtime

Two minutes into OT, Matty Beniers works in and hits the post.

Grubauer's pad save stops Jake DeBrusk's breakaway.

To the shootout we go.

Kailer Yamamoto scores. No one else does. Kraken win.