SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 01: Jared McCann #19 of the Seattle Kraken is congratulated by Jordan Eberle #7 and Vince Dunn #29 after he scored an empty net goal at the end of the third period against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on April 01, 2024 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)Photo: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
The genesis of an explosive offense began to show awakening signs after a 7-3 thumping of the Nashville Predators by the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night at Bridgestone Arena, one that quickly flushed the shortcomings of a shutout loss in Dallas on Sunday and jettisoned the Predators on four creative and resilient third period goals.
“The bounce back, the effort and the compete was all there,” said Kraken head coach Dan Bylsma.
The Kraken took two of three in the first road trip of the season and have scored 12 goals over the span of three days. Depth is kicking in, pace is kicking in, and a spark from an adjusted lineup under Bylsma is kicking in.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS: KRAKEN CRUISE PAST NASHVILLE 7-3
Key takeaways from the three game road trip through Minnesota, Dallas, and Nashville:
1. Offense is fun. There was plenty of it on this road trip.
In what could be described as “chaos” in a Saturday night shootout win at Minnesota, the Kraken showed first hints that pursuing a high-octane attack wasn’t an empty pledge.
On Tuesday, they did it again – and against a Nashville team, while scuffling out of the gate, is predicted by many to be very good and in the playoff mix this season. This time, they were never chasing the game. They roared out of the gates, up 2-0 to set the tone. Then, with the game tied at 3-3 in the third period, they hit the gas - pedal to medal - to put the Predators away.
“Playing connected, it was evident in the first goal,” said Bylsma.
Seven different players scored, and 12 factored in with at least a point or more. Every line had a representative with a point. And yet: Matty Beniers (who had a dazzling feed to Jared McCann for a 6-3 lead) and Andre Burakovsky have yet to score a goal. It’s not a deep concern given the current offensive state, but imagine this offense if they get hot on a team that continues to cook. Look out.
“Winning games on the road is a big boost,” said Bylsma.
2. Line switcher-oo: it worked.
One habit we’re learning under Dan Bylsma’s regime: he’s not afraid to quickly hit the “change” button across line combos, even mid-game, to find instant chemistry. Call it tinkering, or call it with a blender. Whatever. But through the first four games, Much of the top nine forwards have seen different combos. In Nashville, perhaps a spark was lit with the newly formed Jaden Schwartz, Chandler Stephenson, and Oliver Bjorkstrand trio.
They combined for six points, factoring on two goals. Bylsma said he began to see signs of positive, infections work through how the Kraken moved the puck up the ice – especially on Schwartz’s eventual game winner.
“I felt that way about a lot of the plays tonight,” said Bylsma. “It’s great to see the Schwartzy goal in the third period, similar – breaking the puck out, we’re connected. We’re coming up the ice with speed. Bjorky makes a great place to Schwartzy, driving the middle of the net.”
3. Joey Daccord will score an empty netter at some point in his career.
It’s becoming clearer through Bylsma’s words of “competitiveness,” in how Daccord rebounds from a goal to come back for a big stop on the next play. Perhaps, we’re going to reference that as a hallmark for his standards, behind an offense that loves to take off. His game hasn’t been invincible. But through two games, he’s unbeaten. Four goals got past him in a shootout win at Minnesota, but he stopped two of three in the shootout, often known colloquially as the “skills competition.” We saw that again, in the peril of a 3-3 tie, with Daccord coming through with showstopping saves on Filip Forsberg and quieting a threatening Nashville power play in the second period.
Then, of course, the Predators pulled Jusse Saros late in the third period with the Kraken up 6-3. Daccord, a deft puck mover, had a gaping cage to shoot at, 200 feet away.
He didn’t get a shot off, but that didn’t stop him from discussing plans to shoot on an empty net with 93.3 KJR-FM and in postgame coverage.
“I’m always thinking it,” said Daccord, with a chuckle.
Don’t be surprised if “The Mayor” buries one soon.
UP NEXT: the Kraken host the Philadelphia Flyers, Thursday at 7pm PT (93.3 KJR-FM / Kraken Audio Network) to open a five-game homestand.