Philipp Grubauer, Kraken blank Coyotes

Field Level Media|published: Wed 10th April, 01:01 2024

Apr 9, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31) blocks a goal shot by Arizona Coyotes left wing Matias Maccelli (63) during the first period at Climate Pledge Arena. credits: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Shane Wright scored for the fourth time in as many games since being recalled from the minor leagues and Philipp Grubauer made a season-high 39 saves as the Seattle Kraken defeated the visiting Arizona Coyotes 5-0 on Tuesday night.

Justin Schultz had a goal and an assist; Andre Burakovsky, Brandon Tanev and Will Borgen also tallied; and Matty Beniers and Oliver Bjorkstrand each had two helpers for the Kraken, who won their second in a row and fifth in seven games.

The Kraken (33-31-13, 79 points) salvaged the finale of the season series with the Coyotes after losing 4-3 in a shootout Nov. 7 and 2-1 in overtime March 22. Both of the previous meetings were in Arizona.

Karel Vejmelka stopped 20 of 25 shots for the Coyotes (33-40-5, 71 points), who had a two-game winning streak snapped. Clayton Keller's 11-game point streak (eight goals, 10 assists) came to an end.

Wright, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NHL draft who has spent most of the season at Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League, opened the scoring just 1:08 into the game. Wright took a pass from Jordan Eberle low in the right faceoff circle, took one stride toward the net and shot a backhander that went off Vejmelka's catching glove and trickled between his pads.

Burakovsky made it 2-0 on the power play at 2:14 of the period, picking up a loose puck just outside the right faceoff dot after a pass pinballed off a couple of players in the slot. Burakovsky's quick wrister beat Vejmelka high inside the near post as the goalie tried to slide across the crease.

Schultz extended the lead to 3-0 at 4:29 of the second, taking a pass from Bjorkstrand on a two-on-one rush and putting a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle just inside the far post.

Tanev shoveled the puck into the open side of the net from just outside the crease at 6:38 of the third after taking a cross-ice pass from Yanni Gourde.

Borgen netted a wrister from the right point past a screened Vejmelka at 9:35 of the period to cap the scoring.

—Field Level Media

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