Final Buzzer: Entertaining and Excruciating

There could not be a Kraken fan following Thursday's 6-4 loss here at Climate Pledge Arena, on television, radio or app, that didn't experience thrills and, well, the wrong kinds of chills in the game's waning moments.

When Seattle's Yanni Gourde (and he is most definitely our kind of player) was whistled for high sticking late in the third period, Calgary converted with a power-play goal and rebound shot by Flames forward Andrew Mangiapane at 16:51. It was Mangiapane's 18th goal of the season. The score made it 4-3.
Thirty seconds later, former Flames captain and now same for the Kraken, Mark Giordano, snaked a shot from the left point inside the blue line. Jared McCann got a piece of the shot, deflecting it downward and bouncing past Jacob Markstrom. It was a 4-4 game - for 13 seconds.
The scoring frenzy went off-kilter after those 13 seconds when Calgary's Matthew Tkachuk found a spot between Chris Driedger's leg pads to make it 5-4. Three scores in 43 seconds.
Noah Hanifin tallied an empty-netter to cinch it with 20 seconds remaining. Driedger finished with 34 saves but there was clearly at least one, the last shot he faced, that he would like back.
"I should have been better on the last two goals," said Driedger, head up during the post-game media Zoom conference but dejected, too. "It's my job to keep pucks out of the net."
Kraken coach Dave Hakstol, poised and reflective as per usual answering post-game questions, said the disappointment of Calgary's scoring a fifth and decisive goal was two-fold.
"We failed to make a play to get out of the zone and the puck goes through our goaltender," Hakstol said. "We got four [goals tonight] and it should be enough to come away with points.
"It's tough to swallow at home. The way we played should be enough to come away with points, at least get to overtime."
Hakstol wasn't about to make excuses, but he did quietly and correctly note the Kraken fought hard on the second night of back-to-back games. With nine more of those combos on the schedule and possibly more rescheduled postponements, that's a positive indicator for Kraken fans and players alike.
The Kraken take a 10-18-4 record into 2022 and a Saturday night home matchup with Vancouver.

Rivalry Takes Hold

The Kraken are headed for any number of Pacific Division rivalries over this season and coming years. But make no mistake: the Kraken-Flames rivalry starts now.
Thursday at Climate Pledge Arena featured what hockey types like to call a chippy game. There was plenty of hard hits, post-whistle shoves and scrums, verbal exchanges that maybe alarmed but likely didn't surprise some TV viewers.
The end result was a gut wrencher - to put it mildly - but there is lots to look forward to if Thursday's chippy and puck-lively game was any indicator of future games with the Flames in 2022 and beyond.

Gio's Night

Giordano started the scoring against his former team, wristing a rebound from a Colin Blackwell turnaround, quick-release shot that ricocheted to Giordano. The 38-year-old defenseman raised his arms in celebration, standing still in the middle of the offensive zone. His teammates on the ice swarmed him.
Despite a mid-period tying goal by the rejuvenated and dangerous Johnny Gaudreau (11th goal to go with 20 assists), Driedger made copious big saves during the opening period. The one Calgary scoring chance in the first five minutes resulted in a point-blank Driedger save on offensive-minded defenseman Rasmus Andersson (looking for his first goal of the season to accompany 15 assists).
There were plenty more stops from Driedger to keep the game deadlocked at one goal apiece going into intermission. The Flames outshout the Kraken 15-10 in the first frame.
Giordano continued his revenge playmaking to ignite the second period. Off the opening draw, Giordano skated deep into the Calgary zone and winged a goal-line pass to McCann, who managed a shot on 6-foot-6 CGY goalie Markstrom, who made the save but the rebound spilled unattended at net front.
Seattle forward Calle Jarnkrok sent the puck across the goal line just nine seconds into the period (setting a high-bar record of fastest Kraken goal to start a period).
Giordano finished the night with a goal and two assists.

Gaudreau Doubles Up

With Kraken fourth-line wing Max McCormick in the penalty box for cross-checking, Gaudreau proved TV analyst JT Brown correct when the ROOT SPORTS Northwest on-air talent pronounced the 5-9 forward as "always dangerous when he's on the ice."
After Driedger made initial stops during the shorthanded situation for the Kraken, Gaudreau found time and space to beat Driedger high but only by clanging goal-post metal on both the right and left sides before spinning over the goal line.
Moments later on a breakaway attempt, McCann made some slick moves on Markstrom only to hit the crossbar himself. This one didn't fall in, prompting a high-decibel response from the crowd.

Roughing and Revenge

Veteran forward/instigator Milan Lucic and young Seattle defenseman Will Borgen were sent off for matching two-minute roughing minors eight-and-a-half minutes into the second period. Six minutes later, Lucic scored the go-ahead goal, beating Driedger up high after a series of rapid passes by Flames teammates.

Making it to the Third Period

Driedger made several saves after giving up the third goal. Seattle penalty killers doused not one but two late period Calgary power plays. The Kraken collectively kept the game to a one-goal margin, 3-2 going into second intermission.
The period finished with Calgary outshooting Seattle 29-17 over the first 40 minutes, but according to NaturalStatTrick.com, the scoring chances were effectively even.
Hanging in there proved genius and practical for the Kraken when the mega-energy, must-watch line of Jarnkrok-Gourde-Blackwell went to work during the fifth minute of the third period. Settled in the offensive zone, Jarnkrok passed cross-ice to Blackwell who clotheslined a pass to Gourde at left net front to tie the game.

Schwartz Sits Out

During his mid-day media video conference, Hakstol hinted at possible changes or "health items" when asked about lines and defensive pairs. As it turned out, veteran forward and alternate captain Jaden Schwartz was the point of concern.
Schwartz didn't dress. He is out "day-to-day with an upper-body injury." Kraken forward Kole Lind was recalled from the taxi squad.