Grubauer makes 23 saves for Kraken in long-awaited win against Flyers

PHILADELPHIA -- Philipp Grubauer made 23 saves for the Seattle Kraken for his first NHL win since Dec. 30, a 4-1 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday.

Grubauer was placed on waivers by Seattle on Jan. 29, one day after his previous start with Seattle. He was sent to Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League, where he was 5-2-0 with a 2.87 goals-against average and an .893 save percentage in seven games.

“I haven't played in a long time in this league, so it's definitely a different pace, different game up here than it is down there," Grubauer said. "But guys helped me out a ton, blocked a lot of shots (15). Happy to be back, happy to get the win."

Matty Beniers had a goal and an assist for the Kraken (27-33-4), who won for the second time in six games (2-4-0).

Grubauer allowed five goals on 22 shots in a 6-4 loss to the Anaheim Ducks in his previous NHL start nearly six weeks earlier before being sent to the AHL.

"He played great tonight," Beniers said. "There's been a lot of games he has played great and we left him out to dry. I was happy that we were able to play better in front of him and he did his thing in there and kept them out, made some big saves and did what he does."

Owen Tippett scored for the Flyers (27-29-8), who went 0-for-5 on the power play in their third straight loss. Samuel Ersson made 28 saves.

Philadelphia hosts the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

"We’ve got to keep working at our game," Flyers coach John Tortorella said. "It's going the wrong direction. As each game has gone by, we've gotten worse, so we’ve just got to keep working at our game. We have another chance tomorrow."

The game seemed to turn late in the second period, with the score tied 1-1 and the teams skating 4-on-4. Philadelphia forward Matvei Michkov had a chance from the right side, but Grubauer, lying on his back, made a glove save at 18:16.

On the next shift, Beniers got the puck low in the offensive zone, stepped out from below the goal line and scored to give Seattle a 2-1 lead at 18:57.

"It was a huge save, and in a really timely manner," Beniers said. "And that's what good goalies do -- they make the big saves when it matters most, and that can change the game right there. Could have made it it 2-1 for them, he's able to make that save, we're able to go down and score. Those are big saves in timely moments."

The Kraken made it 3-1 just 41 seconds later with a short-handed goal by Chandler Stephenson, who stole the puck from Sean Couturier at center ice, broke in alone and beat Ersson past his blocker at 19:38.

"Giving up a goal late in the period is tough, and we gave up two there," said Couturier, the Flyers captain. "I think it's not just that, it's before that. All game long we gave up a lot of odd-man rushes, we weren't above the puck. It was ugly."

Tippett gave Philadelphia a 1-0 lead at 19:28 of the first period when he drove wide around defenseman Ryker Evans and scored on the forehand.

Tye Kartye tied it 1-1 at 10:11 of the second period, wheeling out from behind the net and scoring from the right face-off circle.

Kartye was recalled from a three-game conditioning loan with Coachella Valley on Thursday and played his first NHL game since Feb. 8. It was his first goal since Dec. 5.

"Obviously played a couple games in Coachella, so that was good," he said. "Coming back, was just hoping to help the team out. ... I don't think I was picking a certain spot [on the goal]. I think just trying to get pucks on net there. It was a nice screen, and lucky it went in."

Brandon Montour scored on a one-timer from the right point at 3:55 of the third period for the 4-1 final.

Philadelphia was held to four shots on goal in the third.

"We've just got to start putting together good shifts, continuous shifts, start to wear teams down, hang onto pucks more, make more plays and just get our confidence back," Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim said. "You can see that guys are hesitant right now, and you don't play too well when you're hesitant in this league. Teams will take advantage of it."

NOTES: Stephenson's goal was his 100th in the NHL. ... Beniers had his first multipoint game since Jan. 2. ... Seattle is 14-0-0 when leading after the second period; the Kraken and Minnesota Wild (24-0-0) are the only teams without a loss when leading at the start of the third. … Flyers forward Matvei Michkov had an assist to give him 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in seven games since returning from the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off on Feb. 22.