Third timeâs a charm.Â
The Seattle Kraken, surviving a wild second period, turned a pair of Carson Soucy goals and a fantastic debut by Daniel Sprong into a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes, Tuesday before 11,670 fans at Gila River Arena.
The victory salvaged a season series closing victory, the first for the Kraken in three tries against Arizona, while finding a spark in their first game after the trade deadline to improve to 3-1-1 in the last five games.Â
âThe group worked hard,â said head coach Dave Hakstol. âPretty consistent effort throughout, we got a little sloppy with the puck in the second period and that cost us on a couple of second chances against. Guys did a real good job regaining that composure and playing in the third period with a lead.âÂ
After a scoreless tie in the first 20 minutes where the Kraken held control with a 15-7 shots advantage, the floodgates opened in the following period to include five goals in less than ten minutes, including a wild exchange of three goals in 1:02.Â
Nick Schmaltzâs 19th goal of the season put Arizona up 1-0 at 8:11. On the next shift, Carson Soucy wired a point shot through traffic just 18 seconds after Schmaltzâs goal for a tie game. Soucy hit a new career high with eight goals.Â
âYouâve got to take it and make the most of your opportunity with a couple of young guys coming in,â said Soucy.Â
Nick Ritchie promptly gave Arizona the lead at 9:13 but the Kraken werenât done. Daniel Sprong uncorked a snap shot off the rush with 6:21 left to tie the game on a power play.Â
âYou can see itâs a weapon,â said Hakstol.Â
Soucy then notched his ninth goal just seconds after a power play expired to give the Kraken the lead at 3-2.Â
â'Souce' has done a nice job on that unit each time heâs had the opportunity,â said Hakstol. âWhen weâve had injuries in the past heâs spent a little time there.Â
âHe did a nice job up top. A lot of responsibility comes with that, and heâs got a good calming effect up there.âÂ
Kole Lind then worked a loose puck off the boards to Jared McCann, promptly feeding Morgan Geekie on an open-net, cross-crease pass for a 4-2 cushion with 7:12 left in regulation.Â
The Kraken, who have won back-to-back games, move west to take on the Los Angeles Kings, coming up next on Saturday at 7:30pm PT (93.3 KJR / Kraken Audio Net).Â