The Seattle Kraken showcased a dominant performance in the third period, netting three goals to secure a 5-2 victory against the Utah Hockey Club on Monday. Jaden Schwartz was pivotal in the win, breaking a 2-2 tie with just over 12 minutes remaining in the game. Shortly after, Matty Beniers extended the lead to 4-2, marking his sixth goal of the season. Jared McCann capped off the scoring with an empty-net goal, solidifying the Kraken's win in a match that saw its fair share of physical play.
Utah initially took the lead with a power-play goal from Logan Cooley in the first period. However, the Kraken responded with Yanni Gourde tying the game late in the first period, followed by Andre Burakovsky's goal shortly after. Utah's Alexander Kerfoot managed to equalize again with a goal just before the second period ended, but it was not enough to overcome Seattle's late-game surge.
Phillip Grubauer stood strong in goal for the Kraken, making 28 saves, while Karel Vejmelka matched him with 28 saves for Utah. A notable performance came from recent Kraken addition Kaapo Kakko, who recorded two assists in his first game at home. Schwartz's three-point night, which included his 12th goal of the season, highlighted his importance in the game. Seattle's ability to score three goals in the third period for the second consecutive game suggests they are finding their rhythm in crucial moments.
Looking ahead, Utah will face the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, while the Kraken will host the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.
