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With Jamie Oleksiak out of commission, the Seattle Kraken were in search of answers.
They got it in the form of a new defensive pair.
Mark Giordano and Carson Soucy, teaming together on the blueline, recorded a combined four points and +6 rating in a 3-2 Kraken victory over the San Jose Sharks before a sellout crowd on Thursday night at Climate Pledge Arena.
The Kraken, now 12-23-4 on the season (28 points), earned back to back wins for the first time since Nov. 27-29 at Florida and Buffalo.
Oleksiak, among the leaders on time on ice at even strength situations per game, was missing for the last two days to a non-COVID illness. In his place, a busy Kraken penalty kill knocked off five of six San Jose power play attempts, and got back to back goals from Soucy in the second period.
Giordano, earning his second multi-point game of the season, also dropped the gloves with Adam Raska after a hard check by Raska, delivered on Giordano with over five minutes left in the second period.
Calle Jarnkrok scored the 100thgoal of his NHL career as the eventual game winner in the third period, staking the Kraken to a 3-1 lead with 13:33 left in regulation after he converted a feathery-smooth backhanded pass from behind the net by Morgan Geekie.
Philipp Grubauer made 23 saves for the win while the Kraken penalty kill, surviving three of four power plays by the Sharks in the third period, kept San Jose at bay five of six times in the game.
Tomas Hertl scored his 21stgoal of the season for San Jose, only 38 seconds into the game while Timo Meier, one game removed from a five-goal night against Los Angeles, cut the deficit to 3-2 at 9:37 of the third period.
The Kraken will continue the six-game homestand on Friday against the St. Louis Blues, 7pm (950 KJR / Kraken Audio Network).
KRAKEN LINEUP, JAN. 21
Johansson-McCann-Eberle
Gourde-Wennberg-Jarnkrok
Donato-Sheahan-Appleton
Kuhlman-Geekie-Donskoi
Giordano-Soucy
Dunn-Larsson
Lauzon-Borgen