LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 20: Joey Daccord #35 of the Seattle Kraken makes a save in front of Arthur Kaliyev #34 and Pierre-Luc Dubois #80 of the Los Angeles Kings as Will Borgen #3 attempts to play the rebound during the second period at Crypto.com Arena on December 20, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)Photo: Harry How / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
Nobody had more work than Joey Daccord in a victorious effort on Wednesday night.
Seattle Kraken history, in its short two-plus season form, said so. Daccord was lights out with a 42 save effort, matching the most saves in franchise history for a game, as the Kraken withstood in-game surges from the Los Angeles Kings in a 2-1 victory at Crypto.com Arena.
Daccord’s heaviest workload was where he was most brilliant: 20 saves in the first period, and moving his save percentage to .911 on the season. Once the Kraken got through the stress test of the first period, Brandon Tanev gave them a 1-0 lead in the second period, followed by Jordan Eberle’s breakaway goal in the third period to technically put it out of reach.
The Kings threatened with Blake Lizotte’s shorthanded goal and a late-game power play, but the Kraken withstood one last barrage, and reached to three points back of the final wild card spot. They have wins or points now in their last five games.
Takeaways from the game:
1. Joey Daccord with another brilliant moment. The case for more time in net got even stronger with his record-tying performance. He had to stand on his head a little more in the first period, compared to the usual night in net. The Kraken responded after the first period and began to effectively defend the front after it appeared the Kings were delivering “more of the same” from last Saturday, while their suffocating structure allowed just nine shots through the halfway mark of the game.
Daccord gave the Kraken a chance, and an energizing source to deliver the game’s first goal, turning the night into what felt like a steal of a win. Since December started, he is 3-2-3 with an electrifying .935 save percentage. Like Martin Jones last season, Daccord is filling the gap with Philipp Grubauer hurt. When he returns, the Kraken will need both goaltenders.
“He’s making timely saves, he’s making big saves,” said Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol.
This is a “goalie 1a and goalie 1b” era we live in. But Daccord is no longer just a door-holding backstop, due to get a smattering of games. Likely, his play has screamed for more reps.
“He's been huge,” said Eberle. “He’s been there to make plays. He’s an unbelievable puck handler. He helps our defense break out.”
“When you have that calm presence back there, it gives your team confidence.”
2. Another strong case for Tomas Tatar staying on Matty Beniers’ line: Tatar was brought in last week by trade to fill a gaping lineup that has been losing bodies by the day to injury. Ever since then, Tatar-Beniers-Eberle have been producing. They won’t light up a scoresheet, but evidence is growing that Tatar’s addition has provided balance and stability. They generated the greater share of scoring chances, and owned a 63% edge in shot quality. Tatar went scoreless, but his linemates didn’t. Matty Beniers had a pinpoint assist to Jordan Eberle, whose perfect read of the play and breakaway goal put away the Kings for his 11th point in the last seven matchups against Los Angeles.
“I just saw a blocked shot,” said Eberle. “As soon as you see that, you can start cheating. I don’t generally do that, but it was nice to get in behind, and find one.”
3. Next man up. The Kraken injured reserve list might as well be a MASH unit. Jaden Schwartz, Andre Burakovsky, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, and Grubauer are all out long term. Jared McCann missed Wednesday’s game, though he is day-to-day. Dave Hakstol had no choice but to dress a lineup that had three players in Coachella Valley earlier this season, with a fourth in the press box, as Ryker Evans was scratched in favor of Justin Schultz. Tatar wasn’t even here two weeks ago. The Kraken had every reason to sit back and wait for something bad to happen. Instead, they swam, instead of sunk.
Devin Shore, limited to six minutes, went 50% at the face-off circle. The Kraken smashed the Kings in the hit category (29-11). Will Borgen led with six. Alex Wennberg won a key draw to set up Tanev’s goal, who also had three takeaways. Then, there’s the Daccord game, while the penalty kill kept a hot Kings power play silent (0-for-4).
Hakstol suggested in that vein, the foundation already exists for success, instead of one they have to build for.
“We’ve played really good hockey for the last eight or nine games,” said Hakstol. “That’s been our most consistent stretch.”
“For us, it’s a continuation of making sure everyone is doing their part – whether you’re playing five, six, or seven minutes or like tonight, (Wennberg) who played 21-plus minutes and did a good job. Whatever you’re called upon to do, when you have guys out of the lineup, that’s what the guys in the lineup have to do. You have to go out and do the job.”