Aleksander Barkov powers Panthers past Kraken in SO

Field Level Media|published: Wed 11th December, 01:17 2024

Dec 10, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken center Jaden Schwartz (17) advances the puck against the Florida Panthers during the first period at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Aleksander Barkov scored in regulation and again in a shootout as the Florida Panthers opened a five-game trip with a 2-1 victory against the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night.

Barkov and Sam Reinhart tallied in the shootout for the Panthers while Seattle's Eeli Tolvanen and Oliver Bjorkstrand had their attempts stopped by Sergei Bobrovsky.

Bobrovsky made 17 saves in through regulation and overtime as the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers extended their points streak to seven games (6-0-1).

Chandler Stephenson scored in regulation for Seattle, and Joey Daccord stopped 32 of 33 shots. Daccord returned after missing the Kraken's 7-5 road victory over the New York Rangers on Sunday because of an illness.

The Kraken had two breakaways in the final minute of overtime but failed to convert. Shane Wright shot wide right of the net on the first try, and Bjorkstrand put a shot off the side of the net with 6.9 seconds left after Bobrovsky cut off the angle.

Seattle opened the scoring at 15:39 of the first period as Yanni Gourde's pass sprung Stephenson for a breakaway. Stephenson skated down the center of the ice and beat Bobrovsky with a quick wrist shot to the glove side.

It was just the third goal of the season for Stephenson, who was Seattle's big offseason signing up front. Jared McCann got a secondary assist, his 100th with the Kraken since joining them in the 2021 NHL expansion draft.

The Kraken nearly took a two-goal lead late in the second period as Gourde skated in on a breakaway before Florida defenseman Nate Schmidt was able to lift his stick from behind. The Seattle bench called for a slashing penalty to no avail, and Gourde saw limited action the rest of the game because of a lower-body injury.

The Panthers pushed the puck to the other end of the rink and Barkov scored on a one-timer from just inside the right faceoff dot at 18:59 after taking a cross-ice pass from Reinhart. Barkov's shot sailed over Daccord's shoulder as the goalie attempted to scramble across the crease.

--Field Level Media