Post by krakengm on Apr 25, 2023 22:53:34 GMT -5
Glendale, AZ - After losing their last home game of the season, the Seattle Kraken were at least able to end the season with a win against the last place Arizona Coyotes. It was a rough first season for the fledgling franchise, but amongst some very disappointing moments there were a few bright spots. A strong performance from Kevin Lankinen, who turned away 31 of 33 shots, helped the club get the win, but on a night when the club was clicking, Lankinen wasn't even named one of the three stars.
Logan O'Connor, who was undoubtedly the biggest positive surprise for Seattle, opened the scoring with his 25th goal of the season. At the start of the season there were high hopes that he'd carve out a spot in the bottom six, but he ended the season on one of the top two lines, and looked like he belonged. Tyler Johnson and Justin Schultz picked up the assists. Gustav Nyquist and Nikita Gusev helped the club take a 3-0 lead by the end of the first.
Arizona stormed back early in the second with a powerplay goal by Wayne Simmonds, and Danny DeKeyser's first goal of the season at 6:16. Seattle then chased Arizona starter Petr Mrazek at 13:01 when Nazem Kadri scored his 28th of the year.
In the third Anthony Mantha salted away the victory with his 24th goal of the season, with Kadri picking up his 40th assist.
Going into the contest the club was 1 point back of 30th place Tampa, but with the Lightning winning, Seattle remained in 31st place.
"That doesn't matter to me one bit," quipped head coach Todd Reirden when informed of the Lightning's results. "We're here to win, and after a rough season it was good to see the boys rise to the occasion. We needed that. We'll let management worry about things like draft position."
With the 31st place finish Seattle has the second best odds of picking first overall in the 2023 Entry Draft, but of course they could drop as well.
"It was a good outcome," said veteran Kadri, named second star of the game. "We earned that one, and hopefully we'll come back stronger next season."
--- Johnny Pike for the Seattle Times.
Logan O'Connor, who was undoubtedly the biggest positive surprise for Seattle, opened the scoring with his 25th goal of the season. At the start of the season there were high hopes that he'd carve out a spot in the bottom six, but he ended the season on one of the top two lines, and looked like he belonged. Tyler Johnson and Justin Schultz picked up the assists. Gustav Nyquist and Nikita Gusev helped the club take a 3-0 lead by the end of the first.
Arizona stormed back early in the second with a powerplay goal by Wayne Simmonds, and Danny DeKeyser's first goal of the season at 6:16. Seattle then chased Arizona starter Petr Mrazek at 13:01 when Nazem Kadri scored his 28th of the year.
In the third Anthony Mantha salted away the victory with his 24th goal of the season, with Kadri picking up his 40th assist.
Going into the contest the club was 1 point back of 30th place Tampa, but with the Lightning winning, Seattle remained in 31st place.
"That doesn't matter to me one bit," quipped head coach Todd Reirden when informed of the Lightning's results. "We're here to win, and after a rough season it was good to see the boys rise to the occasion. We needed that. We'll let management worry about things like draft position."
With the 31st place finish Seattle has the second best odds of picking first overall in the 2023 Entry Draft, but of course they could drop as well.
"It was a good outcome," said veteran Kadri, named second star of the game. "We earned that one, and hopefully we'll come back stronger next season."
--- Johnny Pike for the Seattle Times.