Shane Wright's First Multi-Goal Game Powers Kraken Past Ducks, 3-1

Midway through the 2nd period at Honda Center Friday, center Shane Wright couldn't hide an ear-to-ear grin on the Seattle Kraken bench.

Kraken fans dreaming of a better 2024-25 season no doubt were smiling the same way.

Wright, 4th overall choice in the 2022 NHL draft, scored in both the 1st and 2nd periods, adding an assist. He led Seattle to a 3-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks to conclude a three game Kraken road trip.

As soon as the puck dropped, the Kraken faced a situation for the first time in their history: a lineup missing defenseman Adam Larsson.

Explained only as "for personal reasons," Larsson failed to suit up for the first time in 240 all-time Kraken games. Dating back to his pre-Seattle days with the Edmonton Oilers, Larsson had played 343 consecutive games.

1st Period

If I was working in marketing for the 51-loss Ducks, I'd emphasize their storied past, too.

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, back in the lineup for his 697th career NHL game, gets slashed by Russ Johnston. The Kraken retain possession for 74 seconds before the Ducks finally touch the puck and the delayed penalty is called.

In the last game between these two teams, Anaheim took 12 penalties. Seattle scored three power play goals and allowed two shorthanded. None of those things happen on this PP.

In the final five seconds of the Ducks' first power play, Philipp Grubauer makes a glove save on Trevor Zegras. Ducks center and 2023 1st round draft choice Leo Carlsson, standing in front, caused Grubauer to lose his balance as he snared the shot.

All told, Grubauer made three PK saves,

Right after Eeli Tolvanen gets sprung from the box, Grubauer stops Radko Gudas' 99 MPH rocket.

Shane Wright, scoring for the second time on this road trip, tips home an Oliver Bjorkstrand wrister to stake Seattle to a 1-0 lead at 16:08.

Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal tracks a cross-ice pass well to make a stick save on Justin Schultz's left point one-timer.

The Kraken had a 12-9 edge in SOG.

2nd Period

Of note: Kraken coach Dave Hakstol in this game made a couple of unexpected roster decisions. Grubauer got the call in all three games of this California road trip. Rookie callup Ryan Winterton is sitting for the second consecutive game, Logan Morrison his third. We speculated about that here .

Also, the Kraken are without both of the first-pair defensemen. In addition to Larsson, Vince Dunn is back out injured. Dunn took a shot off his arm Wednesday against the Kings. Cale Fleury, up from Coachella Valley, draws in on defense.

It sure looks like Wright is having fun centering a line between veteran wingers Jordan Eberle and Jaden Schwartz. From behind the net, Schwartz feeds Wright for his second goal and a 2-0 Kraken lead at 2:29. Eberle drew the second helper.

For the second time in three games, the Kraken have gotten goals from both Wright and Matty Beniers. What's more, on a Kraken power play, Wright centers a pass off Beniers' skate for a 3-0 lead at 11:40.

Gudas sends Brandon Tanev head over tea kettle at the Anaheim blueline. In the subsequent scrum, Tye Kartye gets a bloodied nose standing up for his teammate.

Judged to have used more leg than hip - which is what enraged the Kraken - Gudas is sent off for tripping. When Can Fowler joins him for cross-checking Wright, the Kraken have 1:08 of 5-on-3.

Seattle, which didn't have a two-man advantage goal all season, still doesn't.

On the Ducks' "Legacy Night," it's the youngsters filling the scoresheet. 19-year-old Carlsson, picked 2nd overall by Anaheim last summer, makes a highlight move and highlight shot to bring the home team within 3-1 at 16:35.

If goalposts could feel pain, the left pipe would be screaming after Jared McCann's semi-breakaway laser.

Before Carlsson's goal, the Ducks went more than 14 minutes without a shot on goal. Seattle led in 2nd period SOG 12-3, 24-12 for the game.

3rd Period

Bjorkstrand starts the final period the way McCann ended the last one, firing a shot off iron.

Wright, who's done it all on offense tonight, may carry an additional souvenir from this game: a bruise. Wright provides a key block of a William Lagesson drive down the slot.

The Ducks don't get a shot for 8+ minutes, but their first is a quality close-in chance from Nikita Nesterenko that Grubauer hugs to his chest.

Anaheim finally sustains offensive zone pressure. Seattle loses track of Alex Killorn at the bottom of the right wing circle - but Grubauer doesn't, sliding across to make the save.

Isac Lundestrom powers his way down right wing to the crease. What he gets for his trouble is a Grubauer stop and a hard shoulder by Fleury knocking Lunderstrom onto his wallet.

The Ducks pull Dostal for a sixth attacker with 3:37 remaining. McCann is hooked by Fowler with a clear lane to the empty net. McCann protests to referee Pierre Lambert that he isn't awarded a goal.

However, the Ducks' penalty essentially cements the outcome. The Kraken got what they wanted - a low-event 3rd, in which they allowed Anaheim a stingy three shots. Shot attempts for the game went to Seattle by a lopsided 66-36.

Next up for the Kraken, the conclusion of the home portion of the '23-'24 season. Arizona comes to Climate Pledge Arena Tuesday, San Jose on Thursday.