Preseason Game 3: Seattle Kraken vs. Calgary Flames

In their two prior preseason games the Seattle Kraken failed to convert an attempt in the post-game shoot out exhibition. Wednesday night in Calgary, tied at 3-3 after overtime the shootout meant a little more. It would decide the game.
Jared McCann converted on his chance and set up Jordan Eberle's game clinching finish as Seattle would earn a 4-3 win at the Scotiabank Saddledome over the Calgary Flames.

It was a back-and-forth night that was punctuated, from the Kraken standpoint, by their top line. Head coach Dave Hakstol went back to the line centered by McCann with Eberle and Jaden Schwartz on the wings. It paid off.
Schwartz scored twice while the trio combined for six points, two of Seattle's goals, and the two shootout conversions. They were a force all night and added six shots on goal while the three led all Kraken forwards with time on ice.

Wednesday's performance was a carry over from Seattle's 5-3 win over Vancouver and all of training camp leading into preseason games. Hakstol has hinted that he wants to give other line combinations a chance to perform but it may end up hard to break up this trio.

Giordano comes home

The saying is that you can't go home again but Seattle defenseman Mark Giordano may beg to differ.
Prior to joining the Kraken via the Expansion Draft, Giordano played 949 games for Calgary. He served as the Flames team captain and took home the Norris Trophy - for top defenseman - in 2019 and a Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2020.
Giordano, 37, received a standing ovation at the start of the game from the Saddledome crowd and again when he scored to open the game three minutes into the first period. He jumped into the offensive zone and received a pass from McCann that he would put behind Flames goalie Dan Vladar. After that goal went in, a cheer rose from the home crowd and a 'Gio' chant broke out.

It was a tone setter and Giordano was active the rest of the night at both ends of the ice, ending the game with over 22 minutes of ice time.

How it unfolded

Schwartz would follow up Giordano's goal with his first of the night three minutes later when he put a rebound in the back of the net. Calgary would pull to within one when Matthew Tkachuk found a loose puck in front of the Seattle net and lifted a shot over Seattle goalie Philipp Grubauer to make the score 2-1. Grubauer started the game and played two periods making 11 saves.
The second period was a tight checking, low event affair. Seattle was held to two shots on goal while the Flames got six on net. Calgary would take advantage of a Seattle mistake and tie the game after a two-on-one break. Michael Stone would fire home a rebound off the post to tie the game at 2-2.
Both teams would score in the third period. Seattle first after Eberle stole the puck at the Calgary end boards on the forecheck. He looked up, found Schwartz in front for his second of the night. Joey Daccord would come in net for the Kraken and made several big-time saves, including two in close on Calgary's Milan Lucic. But again a Kraken mistake in the neutral zone would lead to another odd man rush for the Flames and Mikael Backlund would score with 2:27 on the clock.

Nobody scored in overtime which set up the shootout that was clinched by Eberle's conversion and Daccord stopping three of four Calgary shooters.

Forecheck sets identity

One of the early constants for the Kraken has been the forecheck. Hakstol's charges have been aggressive, and Wednesday was the best effort to date. Routinely sending in two forecheckers, the Kraken gave the Flames defenders fits on the breakout.
It disrupted Calgary's attack and made it tough for them to take the puck up ice and have extended time in the Seattle zone. It also set up the game-winning goal as Eberle's steal came on the forecheck.
This is how Seattle and Hakstol want to play the game. The success is a testament to the players willingness to work hard. Forechecking is an attitude and not for everyone. It takes a lot of energy and willpower to attack the opponents with intensity. So far, that's not an issue for the Kraken.

Kraken notes and numbers

• Jacob Melanson made his Kraken debut Wednesday and played 9:30 minutes. Melanson, 18, was Seattle's fifth-round pick (131 overall) in July's NHL Entry Draft. While he didn't figure in the scoring, he made a big sliding block in the second period with the score tied at 2-2.
• Schwartz and Riley Sheahan led the Kraken with four shots apiece.
• Hakstol also reunited - after a one game layoff - the Ryan Donato, Morgan Geekie, and Joonas Donskoi line that had been effective in camp and against Vancouver. That line didn't figure in the scoring but did create chances although were on the ice for two goals against.
• He only played the third period and overtime but Daccord was sharp and matched Grubauer's 11 saves. Daccord, 25, figures to be Seattle's third goalie once the regular season begins but is off to a great start.