The Seattle Kraken decisively defeated the San Jose Sharks in their inaugural matchup of the season, showcasing their dominance from the outset.
The Kraken’s offense was explosive, netting four goals in the first period, while the Sharks appeared outmatched throughout the contest.
Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol emphasized the team’s readiness right from the beginning, stating, “We came out, we scored early, but just the way we played from the drop of the puck, I thought, really, it put the momentum where we needed it to be.”
Several Kraken players had standout performances, with Oliver Bjorkstrand contributing one goal and three assists, and Eeli Tolvanen adding two goals and one assist.
Their line, along with Yanni Gourde, accounted for four goals and nine total points. Other contributors included Brandon Tanev, Jared McCann, and Adam Larsson, who each found the back of the net, while Jamie Oleksiak provided two assists.
Three Takeaways from the Kraken’s Dominance
Takeaway #1 (Darren): Assessing the Performance of Both Teams
Determining whether the Kraken’s performance was exceptional or a reflection of the Sharks’ struggles is complex. It likely represents a combination of both factors.
Seattle effectively overwhelmed San Jose, dominating possession and keeping their opponents pinned in their defensive zone for extended periods.
This strategy forced the Sharks’ defenders to clump together near the goal, creating ample opportunities for the Kraken to operate effectively around the perimeter.
Tolvanen confirmed this observation, stating, “Oh, yeah. I think we did a really good job changing. They had tired guys out there, and we were able to change, then we’d get fresh guys out there. So I think that’s going to make it easier, and you don’t get tired when you play in the offensive zone.”
The Kraken achieved an impressive 82 percent shot quality during the match, which highlights the deserving outcomes for both teams.
From the Sharks’ perspective, their coach and players expressed frustration after the game, with coach David Quinn labeling the effort as “embarrassing.” He remarked, “We weren’t ready to play.
Two breakaways in the first minute and a half – just absolutely embarrassing. We lost every single battle, got beat off the walls, and every time there was a 50-50 puck battle, we were fishing for pucks and got on the wrong side of it.”
His passionate remarks indicate that this level of performance is unacceptable, even for a team struggling this season. However, Seattle should still be commended for executing their game plan against a weaker opponent.
Takeaway #2 (Curtis): Defense as a Key Component of Offense
Seattle’s defensive efforts were integral to their scoring success, effectively limiting San Jose’s offensive opportunities to an unprecedented level in franchise history.
The Kraken allowed the Sharks a mere 14 shots on goal, which ties for the fewest allowed in franchise history, matching the record set against Ottawa on April 18, 2022. Moreover, the majority of the shots were of low danger.
According to Natural Stat Trick, the Sharks generated shot quality that was expected to yield just 0.75 goals. This figure is 0.31 goals lower than the previous best defensive performance by Seattle.
While the Sharks have struggled offensively this season, entering this game with only 27 goals, the combination of poor finishing and bad luck has contributed to their challenges.
San Jose has produced shot quality expected to generate 45 goals over their first 18 games, averaging 2.5 goals per game.
Their most disappointing offensive showing occurred on November 10 against Vegas when they were shut out on shots worth 1.43 expected goals.
In terms of shot quality, Wednesday’s performance by the Sharks was nearly 50 percent worse than their prior low in the 2023-24 season, underscoring Seattle’s strong defensive display even against a team facing difficulties.
The Kraken’s defenders excelled in protecting high-danger areas of their zone, allowing only two shot attempts from the slot. More importantly, Seattle minimized San Jose’s time in the offensive zone.
As noted earlier, the Kraken controlled possession effectively, particularly in the neutral zone and their offensive zone.
A notable sequence in the second period demonstrated this dominance, as the Kraken maintained pressure in the Sharks’ defensive zone for nearly two full shifts.
While this sequence did not result in a goal, it contributed to an 18-minute stretch in the second period where San Jose failed to register a single shot on goal.
As the saying goes, a strong offense often serves as the best defense, and that proved true for the Kraken in this matchup.
Takeaway #3 (Darren): Thriving Top Lines
With an impressive showing from the Tolvanen/Gourde/Bjorkstrand line, all three of Seattle’s top forward lines are currently functioning effectively together.
While the third line stood out on this night, the top two lines also played a role in Larsson’s goal, with assists from Eberle and McCann, and Tanev scoring the opening goal following a well-executed breakout pass from Alex Wennberg.
Bjorkstrand commented on their chemistry, saying, “I think we’re feeling it. Maybe a few lucky bounces off the glass, but we like playing together, and I think it just kind of went our way today.”
The Jaden Schwartz/Wennberg/Tanev line has also been performing admirably since Tanev’s return from injury.
Coach Hakstol acknowledged their effectiveness, stating, “It might be a bit of an odd look on a line chart when [Tanev] is on the right side there with Wenny, but it’s been a good fit because he brings that pace, he gets you up ice, he gets you into the offensive zone.”
With all three lines operating in sync, there’s optimism surrounding the Kraken’s potential to build on this momentum.
The players are expressing a positive mindset, recognizing their improvement since a challenging start to the season, while also demonstrating a desire to continue striving for better results.
As the Kraken celebrated their victory, other Pacific Division teams such as Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, and Anaheim all suffered losses.
This development places Seattle in a playoff position heading into Thanksgiving, a crucial checkpoint in assessing a team’s playoff prospects.
The question remains: can Seattle continue to capitalize on this positive momentum to solidify their place in the playoff picture? What are your thoughts?
