Stayin Alive: Kraken bring the fight to Stars, force game seven
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – Time and time again in their second season in franchise history, the Seattle Kraken have defied the odds and neglected the naysayers that told them that they could not reach new heights. Today’s game six in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs was no different, as the Kraken powered their way past the Stars for a 6-3 victory to send this series to a game seven. Seattle was able to find the sort of pace and pressure that they needed to begin the game hot, just as Dallas had in the last two contests, and brought the attack to the Stars. Having controlled the first frame, the Kraken were able to maintain their level of energy and consistently kept pressure on net, chasing Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger out of the game and locking down on the back end when Dallas brought the extra attacker on late. Seattle forces a game seven in Dallas, on Monday the 15th.
“I think our transition was faster a little bit, and then I think we get to the net a little bit quicker, fight through the box out, try to get there, and yeah, I think that was the main key of our games tonight.”
“I think just to start, you know, we were ready tonight. I feel like the last couple games they’ve been maybe the ready team at the start. I think that was the big key today. I think all four lines were ready to play and, you know, it showed. We showed up.”
Seattle Kraken forwards and alternate captains Yanni Gourde and Jordan Eberle scored the first two goals of the game for their team (Photos by Liv Lyons)
Flip the script
In games four and five, the Stars have been the ones who came out on fire looking to stun the Kraken, just as Seattle had done in every game of their round one matchup against the Avalanche. Dallas had put together their top line of Robertson-Hintz-Pavelski, and Seattle didn’t have an answer for it as the Stars took the past two games in commanding fashion. If they were going to keep this series going and ensure that they didn’t head out into the offseason just yet, the Kraken needed to flip the script and get out on the front foot before the Stars, especially in their home building. Still a somewhat young team in terms of their players ages and the franchise itself, Seattle looked to their leadership to get things going.
Alternate captain, and fan favorite to become the team's captain, Yanni Gourde was the one who got the party started for the Kraken with a persistent goal around the nine-minute mark into the first frame. Taking advantage of a turnover by Dallas, Seattle brought the puck up ice as Eeli Tolvanen found Gourde out on the wing, jamming the puck against Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger’s pads. Gourde found his own rebound over the right pad of Oettinger, who had just gotten out of his butterfly stance, to get things going and gave the fans a mean mug in celebration. A two-time cup winner himself, Gourde knows what it takes to win these elimination games and was able to ignite the Kraken attack. Maybe there was something special going on for Seattle skaters wearing the alternate captain “A” patch, because those four made huge plays to keep this game going.
Jaden Schwartz, for example helped to continue the buildup of Seattle’s goal, as Dallas’ Esa Lindell nearly forced a takeaway in his own zone. Schwartz helped Jordan Eberle along the wall, finding Eeli Tolvanen for a one time that caused a juicy rebound off the right pad of Oettinger. Eberle quickly took the opportunity presented to him, taking the puck away from the slot and backhanding it over a sprawled-out Oettinger to regain the Kraken lead. Eberle factored into the fifth and sixth goals of the night for Seattle, finding young teammate Matty Beniers in a two-on-one situation to take advantage of the Stars and beat Oettinger, as well as scoring the empty net goal to put the emphatic exclamation point on the game six victory and blow the roof off Climate Pledge Arena. All together, Seattle’s alternate captains accounted for six points on the night.
Seattle Kraken forward Eeli Tolvanen recorded a three point night in the win (Photo by Liv Lyons)
Tolvy terrorizes Dallas
Eeli Tolvanen is easily the best waiver claim in Kraken history, yes, I know it’s year two, and it’s incredible to see the sort of impact that the forward has had since joining the team. Being utilized as more than just his heavy shot, Tolvanen has been able to develop into the complete player that he showed he could be, whether it be displaying playmaking or showing his effort across the 200 feet of ice. He’s had some great moments in a Kraken jersey, whether it’s scoring in his debut game and others, but tonight was his best performance for the team to this point. Tolvanen was amassed three points on the night, the first Seattle skater to do so in franchise history. The drop pass to Gourde for the first goal started things off, continued with the shot off Oettinger’s pad to create the rebound opportunity for Eberle. It was capped off by Tolvanen’s goal, Seattle’s third of the night, off a great pass by linemate Oliver Bjorkstrand that drew the Stars in with him, where Eeli was able to unleash on an empty net.
“Yeah, I don’t know, it’s been a lot of fun. Going to Dallas and playing a game seven, you think that’s going to be really fun. But we already play one game seven, so I think we have something to take from that and bring it in on game seven Monday.”
Game six between the Kraken and Stars was a hard fought, physical game, and game seven should be no different (Photos by Liv Lyons)
Fortifying the deep
A major key in this game for the Kraken was making sure that they could withstand the pushback by the Stars, as well as managing that extremely talented top line of Dallas. There was moronic discussion around the media about “questions” surrounding Seattle goaltender Philipp Grubauer, citing ten goals being allowed in two games despite Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger surrendering nine in that frame. It’s foolish to blame Grubauer for many of the goals in this series, considering that the Kraken defensive play hasn’t been up to par for most of these games and the Stars are one of the best teams in the league offensively already. Regardless of that thinking and that outside chatter, Seattle was able to do a solid job at holding Dallas’ response to strictly that, response goals. Although that is an area to clean up still, the Kraken were able to do a much better job than the last few contests.
“He’s great goalie. We know that he’s going to make the saves. We just do a little better job in a box out. I think we did that today. And when he sees the pucks, he’s going to make those saves.”
“I feel like that’s part of the playoffs. I feel like we did that in last couple of games when they scored and I feel like we had a pushback, so we knew that they’re going to have pushbacks and they’re going to have their chances. But I think we play pretty well and we played cool, so it’s just a credit for the team that we can weather those and just move on.”
Seattle Kraken forward and rookie Tye Kartye celebrates his goal (Photo by Liv Lyons)
The Kartye Partye continues
Rookie forward Tye Kartye was playing with Seattle’s AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, just a few weeks ago prior to being recalled by the Kraken to fill the spot left by an injured Jared McCann. He’s done a great job of coming in and filling the role he’s been asked to, and even with McCann back in the lineup, Kartye has been able to impact the game and keep his spot amongst the starters on a line with fellow rookie Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle. Despite being a rookie, in the AHL and NHL, Kartye hasn’t looked out of place physically or been pushed around, and hasn’t made a ton of bad mistakes that may be viewed as growing pains. In this game six, it was his shot that impressed, scoring the fourth Kraken goal of the night on a snapshot short side that seemed to surprise Oettinger. Kartye’s play isn’t surprising Seattle fans anymore, as the rookie continues to look more and more prepared to take a roster spot next season.
“Oh, it’s awesome. I don’t know, Karts playing juniors last year at this time and undrafted. I think it’s a good story that he was playing the year in AHL and being the rookie of the year there and showing up in the playoffs and scoring those goals that he hit it again today. I think it’s really good and it’s important for the team if we have the guys like that.”
Seattle Kraken forward and Calder Trophy finalist Matty Beniers celebrates his goal (Photo by Liv Lyons)
Lock in, it’s time for another game seven
The Kraken will play their second game seven in their first ever Stanley Cup Playoffs run, and they’ll have to dig deep once again. That first round series against the defending champions was already enough of a slog to get through, but now Seattle will again do what they can to find that second gear against a Stars team that is deeper and arguably better than the Avalanche. It was heavily discussed following games four and five how much “momentum” factors in the playoffs, and we’ll have to see about that when things return to American Airlines Center on Monday at 5PM PST. If the Kraken can dig deep again, get out on the front foot and really challenge Oettinger, then they have a real chance to advance. National media will continue to pick Dallas, and sure that’s fine. But Seattle has shown that they can win on the road and they’ve been one of if not the most resilient team in the NHL.
“Yeah, I think the mindset should have to be the same as it was today. We had to win today, so I think the mindset should have to be the same way. And when the pocket drops, everybody has to be ready and it’s the little details that’s going to matter.”
“Yeah, I think we just stayed on our toes. We played aggressive. I think that’s what we had to do. You don’t want to come out in these situations and sit back and go into the summer wondering why you have to just go for it. You got nothing to lose. So, we have to have that same approach. Obviously in game seven we’ve already been through before, so we just group and do it again.”
Quick notes
Yanni Gourde's goal and assist tonight give him eight points (three goals, five assists) in his last seven playoff games dating back to Game 7 against Colorado on April 30. This is the eighth playoff multi-point game of his career and third of this postseason.
His goal marks the 20th playoff goal of his career and he tallied his 11th and 12th points of the postseason tonight, which leads all Kraken skaters.
Gourde's three goals of the second round rank fourth among all NHL skaters, following only Joe Pavelski, Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, according to NHL PR.
Jordan Eberle's three points tonight (two goals, one assist) now give him the lead among Kraken skaters for goals (5) and points (8) against Dallas this series.
With three points (one goal, two assists) tonight, Eeli Tolvanen notched the first three-point playoff game of his career.
Tolvanen becomes the first Kraken skater to tally three points in a playoff game and now has five points in his last four games played. With the empty net goal, Eberle joined him as the second.
Tye Kartye's goal is his third of the postseason, tying him with Wyatt Johnston and Matty Beniers for the rookie lead in goals during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He now has three goals and two assists since joining the team for Game 5 against Colorado.
Matty Beniers' goal is his third career playoff goal and second of the series. Tonight also marks his second multi-point effort of the postseason.
Justin Schultz tallied his fourth point (one goal, three assists) in four consecutive home games with his assist on Gourde's goal.
Jaden Schwartz’s assist on Beniers' goal gives him his 15th career playoff point against Dallas, the most against the Stars among active players.
His ten points (five goals, five assists) during this postseason now rank for third most in his career.
For the second time this series, four different Kraken players recorded multi-point games (Eberle, Tolvanen, Beniers and Gourde).
The Kraken have recorded 40 or more hits in a game eight times this postseason with 46 hits tonight.
According to NHL PR, with tonight's Game 6 win, the Kraken become the sixth franchise in NHL history to require a Game 7 in each of their first two playoff series. They join the Wild (2003), Sharks (1994, 1995), North Stars (1968), Kings (1968, 1969) and Blues (1968) by staving off elimination Saturday.
The Kraken join a group of nine other teams to debut in the NHL's expansion era and win each of their first two or more potential elimination games.
What’s next?
The Kraken will now head back to Dallas to play the win and advance game seven that will decide who will head to the Conference finals to battle Edmonton or Las Vegas. Game seven between Seattle and Dallas will take place on Monday, May 15th with a puck drop of 5PM PST and will be broadcast on ESPN. The Kraken will once again need this sort of hot start and sustained pace to get the right outcome when they battle the Stars in Dallas, knowing that their opponent will surely look to come out with a fight of their own. While there are differences from their first-round matchup against Colorado, it’s a somewhat familiar spot now for Seattle having taken that game seven against the Avalanche, and the Kraken must find that same spot deep inside them to advance.
