SEATTLE — Eeli Tolvanen was instrumental in the Seattle Kraken’s 6-3 triumph over the Vancouver Canucks, netting two goals, including the decisive one with 6:52 remaining in the second period. Vince Dunn contributed significantly to the victory with two assists, reaching a career milestone of 200 assists. This game unfolded on Saturday night, drawing a vibrant atmosphere to the action on the ice.
The momentum shifted when Tolvanen scored soon after Matty Beniers had equalized the score at 3-3. Earlier, Andre Burakovsky put the Kraken on the scoreboard first at 5:47 into the opening period. However, Vancouver’s Pius Suter and Filip Chytil responded, pushing the Canucks ahead with a 2-1 lead. The game continued to sway as Oliver Bjorkstrand netted a goal for Seattle, leveling the scoreline early in the second period.
Despite Dakota Joshua giving the Canucks a temporary advantage at the 8:05 mark, both Beniers and Tolvanen struck back for Seattle, shifting the momentum. Brandon Montour further solidified Seattle’s cushion by scoring, providing the team with a robust two-goal lead in the final period. Tolvanen later sealed the victory with an empty-net goal merely 1:31 from the end, while Shane Wright bolstered Seattle’s effort with two assists. In addition, Montour contributed an assist, showcasing his versatile gameplay.
Seattle’s goaltender, Joey Daccord, was formidable with 28 saves, whereas Kevin Lankinen of Vancouver managed 18. Despite the setback, the Canucks maintained the second wild-card position in the Western Conference, courtesy of Calgary’s shutout defeat to Florida.
Key game insights reveal that the Canucks have yet to win when conceding five or more goals this season. Conversely, Seattle’s offensive display showed signs of resurgence after struggling to score in their past five encounters, where they failed to exceed three goals. Montour’s third-period goal was crucial, relieving pressure from Seattle’s defense, and enabling a maintained lead that Vancouver couldn’t bridge. Notably, Seattle retaliated energetically over the final two periods, reversing an earlier shot deficit to outshoot Vancouver.
Looking ahead, Vancouver is set to face Anaheim at home this Wednesday night, while the Kraken prepare to host Minnesota on Tuesday night, adding anticipation for the upcoming clashes.
