Despite Valiant Effort, Kraken Left At Gate By Jets 4-3

Winnipeg Jets 2.0 this season might follow in the footsteps of Godfather II and Superman II - sequels which proved more successful than the beloved originals.

This comes to mind because Jets 1.0, known for a few more weeks as the Arizona Coyotes, appear to be relocating, again, to Salt Lake City.

In any case, the 50+ win Jets will be heading to the playoffs, something that can't be said about Seattle Kraken 1.0, who played their next-to-last game of 2023-24 Tuesday at Canada Life Center.

The Kraken scored as many goals as their prior three games combined, by Tomas Tatar, Yanni Gourde and Tye Kartye. They rallied from a two goal deficit for the first time all season.

But in the end, the result was depressingly familiar: a 4-3 loss.

1st Period

This troubled Kraken season contains one last crisis. Rumors are swirling that world-class TV voice John Forslund might replace retiring Jack Edwards on Boston Bruins telecasts.

An eventful shift for Seattle's Brandon Tanev. First, he punishes Logan Stanley with a corner hit. Then he's on the receiving end of a crushing open-ice hit by Brendan Dillon. Finally, he's called for tripping Adam Lowry, son of Kraken assistant coach Dave Lowry.

After Seattle kills the penalty, Winnipeg's Tyler Toffoli smashes a shot off the post, and a second one into Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer.

Mark Scheifele's first backhand pass from behind the net doesn't work. The puck helpfully returns to him, and Scheifle's second try hits the tape of Kyle Connor, who scores his 33rd of the season at 10:33 for a 1-0 Jets lead.

Another eventful Tanev shift. He sets up Pierre-Edouard Bellmare behind the defense, but Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck makes the save. Later in the shift, the rebound of Justin Schultz's one-timer comes to Tanev, who's backhand gets blunted on the way to an open net. Brandon turns his head skyward in disbelief.

Moments later, that line won't be denied. Tomas Tatar, back in the Kraken lineup (in place of Eeli Tolvanen), uses a double screen to tie the game 1-1 at 18:38. Tanev and Bellemare, playing his 699th NHL game, draw the assists.

For the second straight game, the 1st period lasts a few ticks too long for Seattle. The defense loses coverage on Connor at the bottom edge of the right wing circle; he waits for Grubauer to move, and when the goalie does, Connor fires his second goal of the period into the space where he ain't. 2-1 Jets at 19:54.

Seattle outhit the Jets 19-7 and outshot them 8-6, but didn't outscore them.

2nd Period

While being tripped by Brian Dumoulin at the edge of the crease, a falling Nikolaj Ehlers whacks the pill past Grubauer for a 3-1 Jets lead at 2:30.

Here's the problem for Seattle: Grubauer saved Toffoli's initial slapshot, and Ehlers' first rebound try. By the time skaters give a good opponent a third scoring attempt in succession, bad things are likely to happen. This one isn't on the goalie, but instead the defenders (forwards included) in front of him.

For the second time in two periods, a Jet crunches a Kraken in open ice onto his wallet. This time it's Josh Morrissey leveling Bellemare.

But what's this? The Kraken, for the first time in four games, put together a second goal in the same contest. Yanni Gourde tips home Ryker Evans' shot to narrow the Seattle deficit to 3-2 at 5:11. Tanev, all over the ice tonight, picks up the second assist.

Grubauer gets help from the elbow where the right post meets the crossbar. Dylan Samberg's shot goes over the goalie's glove and bangs off iron.

Morrissey's center-ice dump-in accidentally becomes a head-high missile targeting referee Mitch Dunning. The ref, standing deep in the Kraken defensive corner,  ducks and tumbles out of the way. He was able to laugh about it a minute later.

That's Kartye hockey, baby! Somehow Kartye and Gourde end up on a 2-on-0 in front of the Winnipeg net. Wily veteran Gourde waits for (1) Hellebuyck to honor his potential shot and (2) for Kartye to get into shooting position. He does, lifting the puck over the falling goalie to tie the game 3-3 at 18:13.

It's Gourde's second point of the period. Winnipeg outshot Seattle 11-9; SOG are tied at 17 after 40, and so are goals, 3-3.

3rd Period

Oliver Bjorkstrand feeds a cutting Kartye for the lead, but Hellebuyck has the answer. Andre Burakovsky has another grade-A from the side of the net, but Hellebuyck's paddle foils the visitors again from what seems a certain goal.

The Kraken have the territorial advantage this period, have been hunngrier on the puck, and smell a road victory to break a losing streak. They just need the finish.

The post knows the Kraken are putting out a superb effort against a superior opponent. The iron helps out on a Winnipeg power play, as Morrissey hits iron. Kartye follows up with a twisting, spinning clear.

And yet.

12 seconds short of killing the Jared McCann minor, Taffoli from the slot goes backhand, sending Grubauer sliding the wrong direction. Taffoli parks the 4-3 goal, his 33rd, at 11:40.

Hopes for a Seattle comeback plummet when Ryker Evans, behind is own net, is reckless with his stick. It smacks Gabriel Vilardi in the face, resulting in a double minor with 6:29 left.

The Kraken valiantly dispose of the four minute PK, which leaves them just over two minutes to find the equalizer against the league's best defense. Grubauer almost leaps over the boards so Seattle can ice a sixth attacker - only to be called back to the crease after an icing.

Time runs out, as the Kraken lose for the 48th time this season. Game 82 comes Thursday in Minnesota.