The Seattle Kraken used a three-goal first period to sweep the season series against the Buffalo Sabres. Seattle defeated the Sabres, 7-4, on Monday night at KeyBank Center.
Buffalo was awarded the first power play of the night when Haydn Fleury was penalized for tripping. However, the Kraken were able to score shorthanded for an early 1-0 lead. Carson Soucy's third goal of the year came when the defenseman fired a slap shot from just inside the point. Yanni Gourde received the only assist.
The Kraken, once again, scored while a man down when Brandon Tanev was able to muscle past Rasmus Dahlin and score on a rebound chance. Tanev's eighth goal of the year made it 2-0 Seattle, and came with Ryan Donato in the penalty box for tripping.
Both shorthanded tallies for the Kraken were the first shorthanded goals in the franchise's history.
The lead increased to 3-0 for the visitors when Jared McCann was able to get to the side of the net and shovel a chance past Dustin Tokarski. Jamie Oleksiak and Morgan Geekie were credited with the assists on the score.
Brett Murray scored his first career NHL goal less than two minutes into the second period. The forward was able to corral a loose puck at the side of the net after the initial shot went wide of the goal and hit the end boards. Murray's first career NHL point came on Saturday with an assist against the Detroit Red Wings. Kyle Okposo was credited with the lone assist on the goal that made it 3-1 Seattle.
The lead was increased back to three, 4-1, thanks to McCann's second goal of the night. Geekie used a blind, backhand pass to the front of the net to help create the score. McCann was able to get to the spot in front of the net without any traffic.
The Sabres scored on the power play for the first time on the night, but promptly allowed Seattle to re-gain their three goal advantage.
Jeff Skinner scored his seventh goal of the year while on the man advantage. Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin assisted while Adam Larsson was in the penalty box for hooking.
Just 42 seconds later, Mason Appleton scored his first goal of the season to make it 5-2, Seattle. Ex-Sabres defenseman Will Borgen was credited with an assist, along with Alex Wennberg.
Skinner's second goal of the night came just 37 seconds into the third period to cut the Sabres' deficit to 5-3. The score came after Victor Olofsson took the initial shot that was stopped. Olofsson was given the only assist for Buffalo.
Jaden Schwartz got on the scoreboard with his fifth goal of the year to give Seattle a 6-3 lead late in the third. It was his first point of the night.
The Sabres scored with about a minute and a half remaining in regulation when Dylan Cozens tipped an Okposo shot past Driedger for his sixth of the season. The late goal made it 6-4 in favor of the visitors before Appleton scored an empty net goal to end the game.
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GAME RECAP
Goal Summary:
First Period:
BUF: NONE
SEA: 5:47 - Carson Soucy (3) SHG (Yanni Gourde); 14:40 - Brandon Tanev (8) SHG (Unasissted); 19:04 - Jared McCann (9) (Jamie Oleksiak, Morgan Geekie)
Second Period:
BUF: 1:53 - Brett Murray (1) (Kyle Okposo); 17:27 - Jeff Skinner (7) PPG (Tage Thompson, Ramsus Dahlin)
SEA: 7:59 - Jared McCann (10) (Morgan Geekie, Brandon Tanev); 18:09 - Mason Appleton (1) (Will Borgen, Alex Wennberg)
Third Period:
BUF: 0:37 - Jeff Skinner (8) (Victor Olofsson); 18:27 - Dylan Cozens (6) (Kyle Okposo, Brett Murray)
SEA: 13:44 - Jaden Schwartz (5) (Yanni Gourde, Joonas Donskoi); 19:35 - Mason Appleton (2) ENG (Brandon Tanev, Adam Larsson)
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Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: NONE
SEA: 5:31 - Haydn Fleury (Tripping - 2 min.); 14:14 - Ryan Donato (Tripping - 2 min.)
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
SEA: 16:38 - Adam Larsson (Hooking - 2 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
SEA: 1:07 - Jaden Schwartz (Interference - 2 min.)
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Jared McCann - SEA
2.) Brandon Tanev - SEA
3.) Jeff Skinner - BUF
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What's next:
The blue and gold will venture back out on the road this week. Buffalo will travel to the Sunshine State for a date with the Florida Panthers on Thursday night. The two teams will drop the puck at 7 p.m. EST on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550. Pregame coverage with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog begins at 6 p.m. EST.
