SEATTLE — The Vancouver Canucks triumphed over the Seattle Kraken with a 4-3 shootout victory on Thursday night, thanks to J.T. Miller’s decisive goal in the shootout.
Conor Garland, Tyler Myers, and Max Sasson contributed to the Canucks’ goal tally during regular play. Starting goalie Thatcher Demko made 11 saves on 12 shots before being sidelined in the second period due to back spasms. Kevin Lankinen stepped in, finishing the game with 13 saves.
On the Kraken side, Vince Dunn and Matty Beniers each recorded a goal and an assist, while Chandler Stephenson also found the net and Andre Burakovsky provided two assists. Philipp Grubauer was busy between the pipes, making 19 saves throughout the contest.
In the shootout, Miller managed to slide a shot past Grubauer in the first round. Lankinen then upheld the lead for the Canucks by stopping attempts from Oliver Bjorkstrand, Kaapo Kakko, and Beniers to clinch the win.
This match served as a redemption for the Canucks, who previously faced a heartbreaking 5-4 overtime defeat against the Kraken just last Saturday. In that encounter, the Kraken had stunningly equalized late with three goals in the final five minutes, eventually winning in OT with Dunn’s goal. Dunn played a critical role again, managing to tie the game with only 53 seconds left in regulation on Thursday.
Key observations indicate that the Canucks appear to have bounced back from a phase of offensive struggles, having now scored three or more goals in four of their last five games. On the other hand, Beniers has found renewed scoring form, netting goals in each of Seattle’s last three games after experiencing a notable 19-game dry spell.
The turning point in the game was Miller’s shootout goal, which put significant pressure on the Kraken, allowing the Canucks to grasp a much-needed victory over their longstanding rivals.
Notably, this win marks an end to Vancouver’s streak of five consecutive losses in games that extended beyond regulation, with their last victory in OT or a shootout dating back to a match against Detroit on December 1.
Looking ahead, the Canucks are set to host the Nashville Predators on Friday, while the Kraken will welcome the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.