Final Buzzer: Better, Not Best

Tuesday in New Jersey was a better overall effort for the Kraken if not any more satisfying on the scoreboard. Any fan watching center Yanni Gourde make his debut witnessed the start of what will no doubt be a distinguished career for Seattle.

Gourde played big minutes, established near-instant chemistry with new top-line mates Jaden Schwartz and Jordan Eberle, annoyed several Devils players, took at least one shot that nearly got past New Jersey goalie Jonathan Bernier, played aggressive defense on both ends of the ice, won numerous puck battles and hit some people too.

Third-Period Revival

Gourde was approaching 18 minutes of time on ice even before the game's referees called two penalties within seconds to set up a 5-on-3 situation for nearly two minutes. Coach Dave Hakstol and assistant Paul McFarland, who runs the power play, kept Gourde out for the two-man advantage.
With patient work by veterans Gourde and captain Mark Giordano, the Kraken set up Jared McCann for extended seconds with the puck. McCann gathered in a spinning puck to put a laser upper-left corner shot, beating Bernier on the short side. Gourde earned his first point of the season with a secondary assist.
A late push with goalie Joey Daccord on the bench for an extra attacker didn't yield the tying goal all Kraken fans were seeking. Instead, New Jersey sealed it with an empty-net goal with 19.7 seconds left.
But Mark Giordano told a post-game media scrum he appreciated "fight and pushback" in the squad he captains.
"It was a different night," said Giordano referring to the 6-1 loss in Philly Monday. "It was way better ... the third goal hurt ... they did a good job clogging the neutral zone, we couldn't find a way to get inside. We have a lot of areas to clean up."
Hakstol agreed: "We battled hard tonight. That was one thing that was missing last night [Monday]."
Giordano was not offering excuses, including any buy-in that the Kraken have played the most games of any NHL team - five in eight days - to start the season.
By comparison, Tuesday was the Devils' second game of the season. That fact was noticed but no one on the Kraken side leaned into it as a reason for falling short in what was effectively the fourth one-goal game of the trip.
"They came out a fresh team," Hakstol said. "They were a lot quicker than us. But I could see us getting our legs in the second and third periods."

Practice? Yes, Practice

Both Hakstol and Giordano said they looked forward to the value of upcoming practices, likely Thursday and Friday at the Kraken Community Iceplex before a morning skate at Climate Pledge Arena Saturday before the historic home opener against division rival Vancouver.
"We definitely need some practice time," said Giordano, who turned 38 and is embarking on his 16th NHL season.
Even Gourde, who didn't look like he had missed any practices in his review, said he looked forward to a couple of team practices in the days ahead after what no doubt will be a rest and reconnect-with-family-and-themselves day for players Wednesday.

Here We Go Again?

The first period ends in New Jersey with what could be a discouraging score of 2-0 in favor of the Devils. But there are reasons for optimism, whether for the game's next 40 minutes or the four-game homestand that awaits the Kraken starting with Saturday's historic home opener at Climate Pledge Arena:
On his next shift, Gourde kept the momentum going, creating a 3-on-1 with his new linemates Schwartz and Eberle. Gourde centered a promising pass to Schwartz but it slid past the winger. Later same shift, with Jersey pressing in the Kraken defensive zone, Gourde cleanly won the puck back and out of danger.

Power Play Still Searching

The Kraken earned two consecutive power plays in the first half of the second period, but despite some good looks and puck movement, the man-advantage yielded no goals.
But the ensuing Kraken shift broke the scoring when a hard, low shot from an underrated shooter, Seattle defenseman Adam Larsson, was fended off by Bernier. The rebound came out to center Riley Sheahan (the now presumed fourth-line center), who zinged it home to cut the lead and deliver the first goal by a Seattle forward since Tanev's highlight-reel deke during the second period of Saturday night's overtime loss in Columbus.
After 14 periods on this five-game trip, the Kraken power play is 3-for-15. That percentage will improve, lots of solid scoring chances.

Daccord Take-Two

The Kraken's No. 3 goalie slept in Charlotte Monday night as a member of the American Hockey League Charlotte Checkers. By Tuesday mid-day he was flying up to Newark. After two periods he had faced 28 shots and made at least six saves that any fan wouldn't call a soft goal.
It's uncertain how long Chris Driedger will be out of action with a lower-body injury he tweaked Monday night against Philadelphia. The goalie and Kraken decided early Tuesday the former Florida Panthers goaltender (top five last season in goals-against average) would not be able to take his first start for Seattle.
Daccord certainly earned the right to be on the roster until Driedger mends completely. It's early in a long season; no one on the Kraken medical team will rush Driedger back to action.

News and Notes

• Joonas Donskoi continues to shine on the penalty kill. It was a good trip for the PK unit and Donskoi was a big reason why. Another standout who flies under the radar - at least until he scored in NJ Tuesday - is veteran center Sheahan. He's a pro's pro.
• Morgan Geekie took a high, hard hit from New Jersey defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler at 17:52 of the second period. More than a few media types evaluated it as a late hit that should have been called a penalty. Instead, there was no call on the play. But Geekie's linemate Ryan Donato, not exactly known as a fighter, immediately went to his teammate's defense, taking on Siegenthaler.
• Officials stopped the scrap with Donato on top, then issued a two-minute minor to Donato for instigating (McCann served the time, five minutes for fighting (same for Siegenthaler) and a 10-minute misconduct. Donato took some shifts late third period when the penalty time elapsed. But Geekie never returned after the hit.
• A late second-period goal and twisty wrist shot from Alex Wennberg beat Devils goalie Bernier from long range, just inside the blue line. Unfortunately, forward Mason Appleton entered the New Jersey defensive zone a half-stride too soon. Originally scored as a goal, Devils coach Lindy Ruff (he's coached a lot of games) challenged the call and the linesmen reviewing the video from NHL's Toronto hockey operations headquarters quickly realized the play was offside.
• Seattle D-man Jeremy Lauzon put a hard hit (no penalty) on Devils star Jack Hughes late in the first period. Hughes, who scored two goals in NJD's home opener Friday, including an overtime winner, did not return.
• New Jersey's Mason Geerstsen, appearing in his first NHL game after years in the AHL and Western Hockey League, decided to retaliate for the Hughes hit, going after Lauzon the next time the two were on the ice at the same time. Both players were whistled for five-minute majors and Geerstsen beefed up his score sheet with a 10-minute misconduct.
• Eberle had another two great chances to score Tuesday but is still looking for his first goal in a Kraken uniform. He will score and likely in bunches soon. Playing with Gourde will help that outcome and law of hockey averages and puck luck will push the scoring push.
• There are lots of small details that coaches and players notice when they look at game stats. One that will look better Tuesday than many games on this now-complete five-game opening road trip is faceoff percentage. Seattle had 37 faceoff wins to New Jersey's 36.