Kraken can't overtake Devils, tumble 3-2 at Climate Pledge Arena

Kate Shefte, The Seattle Times on Jan 7, 2025

Published in Hockey

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Notable: Adam Larsson and Shane Wright tied the game at 1-1 and 2-2, respectively, but the New Jersey Devils stayed a step ahead of the Kraken throughout Monday night.

Thirty-seven seconds after Wright made it 2-2 off a power-play dish from behind the net from Kaapo Kakko, New Jersey’s Ondrej Palat gave the Devils a lead that lasted.

On the first Devils goal, as if in slow motion, Dawson Mercer crashed the net uncontested, picked up a rebound off the pads of Philipp Grubauer (26 saves) and put it past the Kraken goalie.

Larsson, who was drafted fourth overall by the Devils in 2011 and spent parts of five seasons there, tied the game with a long shot late in the first period. Larsson left the Kraken’s previous game with an injury and his participation in this one had been in question.

Grubauer turned in several stellar saves in his fifth straight Kraken start, but his team dropped its second straight in regulation. Seattle is winless in its past three.

Quotable:“Obviously their goalie made some big saves for them tonight. It was one that I know we lost, but did create a lot. Right direction.” – Kraken forward Jared McCann

Player of the game: Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (21 saves) stood on his head to keep the Kraken from tying the game in the late stages.

Goal of the game: Kakko’s pass to Wright on the latter’s goal was an encouraging sign for Seattle on several levels.

On tap: The Kraken are off Tuesday then go on a five-game road trip. If there was ever a time to log some standings points, this would be it. Columbus, Buffalo, Detroit and Pittsburgh, all of whom were on the outside of the Eastern Conference playoff spots as of Monday afternoon, are their hosts in the first four games.

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