Kraken rally past reeling Rangers in high-scoring clash

Field Level Media|published: Sun 8th December, 16:12 2024

Dec 8, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Seattle Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer (31) makes a save on New York Rangers right wing Kaapo Kakko (24) during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Oliver Bjorkstrand tallied two goals and two assists as the Seattle Kraken rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat the host New York Rangers 7-5 on Sunday afternoon.

Eeli Tolvanen had a goal and two assists and Shane Wright added one of each for Seattle, which wrapped up a 3-1-0 trip and defeated the Rangers for just the second time in franchise history (2-6-0).

Seattle's Brandon Tanev, Vince Dunn and Yanni Gourde also scored, while Chandler Stephenson and Matty Beniers each had two assists. Philipp Grubauer, getting the start in net because Joey Daccord was suffering from an illness, made 32 saves to win for the first time in his past seven decisions dating to Oct. 17.

K'Andre Miller and Vincent Trocheck had a goal and an assist apiece, while Adam Fox and Artemi Panarin each added two helpers for the Rangers, who have lost seven of their past nine.

Reilly Smith, Filip Chytil and Alexis Lafreniere also scored for New York. Jonathan Quick, starting with Igor Shesterkin out because his wife went into labor, stopped 15 of 21 shots. Quick blanked the Kraken 2-0 on Nov. 17 in Seattle.

Trailing 3-1, the Kraken scored three times in the span of 5:18 late in the second to take the lead. Tanev tallied at 14:06, Tolvanen at 15:34 and Bjorkstrand tipped Brandon Montour's shot from the right point past Quick at 19:24 for a 4-3 Seattle lead.

Seattle extended the lead as Dunn scored on a blast from the right point 1:00 into the third and Wright tallied at 11:13 for a 6-3 advantage.

The Rangers rallied as Miller scored at 12:27 and Lafreniere at 14:57 to pull within a goal.

Gourde's empty-netter at 18:14 capped the scoring.

The Rangers scored the lone goal of the first period as Miller's shot from the left point snuck between Grubauer's pads and Smith was there to tap it into the net at 3:38.

Bjorkstrand tied it on the power play at 1:46 of the second.

Chytil scored at 2:50 of the second and Trocheck tallied on the power play at 4:47 for a 3-1 Rangers lead.

--Field Level Media