SEATTLE — Jamie Oleksiak netted the pivotal goal in the second period as the Seattle Kraken triumphed over the Buffalo Sabres with a final score of 6-4 on Monday night.
Oleksiak’s goal came at the 16:34 mark, breaking a 3-3 deadlock just moments after Buffalo’s Tage Thompson leveled the game following a two-goal comeback.
Buffalo started strong with Jack Quinn scoring a goal just over five minutes into the match, putting the Sabres ahead early. However, Seattle quickly took control, scoring three consecutive goals with John Hayden and Chandler Stephenson contributing in the first period, while Matty Beniers extended Seattle’s lead to 3-1 in the second period.
The Sabres responded with goals from Jason Zucker and Thompson, who netted his 20th of the season at 15:38, leveling the score at three.
Oleksiak’s strike restored Seattle’s lead, followed by additional goals from Adam Larsson and Jared McCann in the third period, effectively sealing the game for Seattle.
Despite Alex Tuch pulling one back for Buffalo with 1:22 remaining, McCann quickly responded 17 seconds later, restoring a two-goal cushion for Seattle. This marked McCann’s first three-point game since October, showcasing his impact on the match with a goal and two assists.
Seattle’s goaltender, Joey Daccord, recorded 25 saves, while Buffalo’s Devon Levi stopped 28 shots.
Key takeaways from the match include: the Sabres’ troubling trend of conceding at least five goals in each of their past three defeats, and for the Kraken, their impressive 7-1 all-time record against Buffalo, with their sole loss occurring on March 18, 2024.
A pivotal moment in the game was Oleksiak’s goal which came just 56 seconds after Thompson’s equalizer in the second period, proving to be crucial for Seattle.
Statistically, since December 3, the Kraken have maintained an impeccable record of 10-0 when scoring four or more goals, contrasting sharply with their 0-13 record when tallying fewer than four during the same timeframe.
Looking ahead, the Sabres are set to face off against Vancouver on Tuesday, while the Kraken will take on Washington at home on Thursday night.
