Wright Returns To Kraken, Scores Game-Winner In 4-2 Bite Of Sharks

Many happy returns for the Seattle Kraken Monday as they started a road trip in San Jose: defenseman Vince Dunn, back from a month-long injury absence, and center Shane Wright, the latest callup from AHL Coachella Valley.

Wright scored as part of a three goal Kraken first period, aided by Jordan Eberle's 700th NHL point. Matty Beniers and Oliver Bjorkstrand also tallied to stake Seattle to a 3-1 lead, and they held on to defeat the Sharks at SAP Center, 4-2.

Though Seattle went 42 scoreless minutes until Jared McCann's empty-netter, Wright's goal stood as the game winner. Philipp Grubauer made 24 saves to earn the victory.

Seattle's California Adventure continues Wednesday against the L.A. Kings before concluding Friday at the Anaheim Ducks.

1st Period

We begin with this note from the accounting department.

Below, I would have gone with, "The Kraken Will Be Wright Back."

To make room for rookies Shane Wright and Ryan Winterton, as well as the return of defenseman Vince Dunn, Kraken asked to sit this one out: recent callup Logan Morrison, as well as Kailer Yamamoto, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Tomas Tatar, and Justin Schultz.

Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood shut out St. Louis Saturday. His streak ends 29 seconds into this game, when Matty Beniers fires over his shoulder for a 1-0 Kraken lead.

Beniers' 13th ensures there won't be a repeat of Seattle's last visit to the Shark Tank, when they lost 2-0 just before the All-Star break.

The Kraken have great early opportunities to pad their lead.

• Three SOG yield no goals on a Seattle PP
• Blackwood's glove save foils a Jared McCann breakaway
• Tye Kartye's goal is wiped away after a San Jose coach's challenge for Brandon Tanev being offside

Nine minutes into the period, Mario Ferraro registers San Jose's first shot. The Kraken have eight, not including the Kartye goal that didn't count.

At 11:26, Oliver Bjorkstrand scores one that does, somehow. There's about a postage stamp-sized opening between Blackwood's shoulder, the post and the crossbar - Bjorkstrand threads the needle for the All-Star's 20th goal.

Bjorkstrand and Eeli Tolvanen already have multi-point games.

Beniers has his name taken off the scoresheet for what was temporarily his 100th NHL point. Then he goes on the scoresheet for tripping.

Using their 6th-ranked home power play, the Sharks cut the lead to 2-1. Fabian Zetterlund beats Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer at 14:19.

Aided by the PP, San Jose has eight of the last nine shots.

Wright restores the two goal Seattle lead at 17:06 using a precision give-and-go with Jordan Eberle. Wright's other linemate, Jaden Schwartz, picks up the second apple.

For Wright, his first Kraken goal this season, second in the NHL; for Eberle, his 700th career point.

San Jose actually outshoots Seattle in the period 11-10, but trails by two where it counts after 20 minutes.

2nd Period

After the Sharks kill a second Kraken power play, Klim Kostin narrows the deficit to 3-2 at 5:01.

It took Seattle half the period to correct the tilt in the ice favoring the home team.

Truculence, without penalties: Kostin smashes defenseman Will Borgen into the boards, then Yanni Gourde delivers a couple of retaliatory cross-checks to Kostin.

Sharks defenseman Kyle Burroughs knocks McCann down in front of the San Jose bench. As Burroughs prepares to skate away, McCann rises and pitchforks the d-man's stick into orbit, landing in the home team bench.

San Jose dominates the final three minutes, passing and weaving around a gassed Seattle defense. They don't score, but force Brandon Tanev into an interference penalty in the final 15 seconds.

The Sharks only held a 9-8 shots advantage in the middle 20, but their possession advantage was much greater.

3rd Period

Kraken goalie Grubauer helped bar the door in the 2nd period.

Fresh ice for a Sharks carryover power play against Seattle's 17th ranked PK (79.6%). The Kraken have already surrendered one extra-man goal tonight.

This time, the visitors don't even allow a shot on goal until Tanev exits the box.

First-pair defenseman Vince Dunn, seeing his first action in a month, leads all Kraken skaters in ice time.

Friendly fire: Dunn's left dot rocket catches Gourde standing in front. The scrappy veteran needs help getting to his feet, then skates doubled over to the dressing room.

My THN San Jose colleague doing his best to hex the Kraken.

Okay, Max. The Sharks are 2-36-2 when trailing after two periods, BTW. Just sayin' :-)

Seattle leads in blocks 19-14 with seven minutes left. Hits are 19-6 San Jose, with Kostin laying another heavy one on Tanev. Most important, the Kraken have re-tilted the ice their way, taking nine of the first 11 shots in the period.

Grubauer make two quick saves on shots by Filip Zadina and Calen Addison, then takes a Henry Thrun blast off his shoulder to protect the lead.

San Jose pulls Blackwood for a sixth attacker. McCann backhands an empty-net shot off the left post, then scores his 28th goal - and first in 12 games - to finalize the score at 4-2 Seattle.