Philipp Grubauer stands tall to lift Kraken over Flyers

Field Level Media|published: Sun 28th December, 23:12 2025

Dec 28, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31) blocks a goal shot by Philadelphia Flyers right wing Matvei Michkov (39) during the first period at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Philipp Grubauer made 31 saves and Eeli Tolvanen had two goals -- both empty-netters -- and an assist as the Seattle Kraken defeated the visiting Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 Sunday night.

Chandler Stephenson added a goal and an assist, and Jordan Eberle also tallied as the Kraken won their fourth consecutive game following a 1-9-1 skid.

Carl Grundstrom scored the lone goal for the Flyers, who had a two-game winning streak snapped. Goalie Dan Vladar stopped 16 of 18 shots.

The Flyers outshot Seattle 10-7 in a scoreless first period. It was the 10th straight game the Kraken failed to tally in the opening 20 minutes.

The Kraken opened the scoring at 3:48 of the second period. Matty Beniers carried the puck down the right wing and behind the net. Beniers stopped, spun and sent a pass back to Kaapo Kakko in the corner. Kakko spotted Eberle cruising alone down the slot, and the captain dropped to a knee to lift a shot over Vladar's glove and just inside the right post. It was Eberle's team-leading 14th goal of the season and his fourth over the past three games.

Seattle doubled its lead at 5:49 of the third. Adam Larsson lifted the puck out of his own zone, and it bounced down the ice. Tolvanen won a battle behind the Flyers' net with defenseman Travis Sanheim and fed Stephenson in the slot for a one-timer that beat Vladar to the blocker side just inside the left post. It was Stephenson's 10th goal of the season and his fifth in the past seven games.

Tolvanen, who extended his point streak to six games (three goals, seven assists), scored his first with Vladar pulled for an extra attacker at 17:31 to make it 3-0.

Grundstrom scored at 18:03 on a wrist shot just under the crossbar to spoil Grubauer's bid for his first shutout since Feb. 29, 2024.

The Flyers again pulled Vladar, and Tolvanen tallied his second at 18:24.

Kraken forward Jared McCann, the franchise's career scoring leader, returned after missing seven games with a lower-body injury. Defenseman Vince Dunn was back in the lineup after sitting out Tuesday's 3-2 win at Los Angeles with an upper-body ailment.

--Field Level Media

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