Three Stars of Week 4: Seattle Kraken Secure Six Points on Road Trip
Honorable Mentions
Brandon Tanev (1g, 1a)
Brandon Tanev‘s presence was sorely missed on the ice last season. Seeing him back in action has been a treat. While he didn’t contribute much to the score sheet in the Seattle Kraken’s first two games this week, he did contribute 7 combined hits against the Minnesota Wild and Calgary Flames.
However, Turbo’s two-point night against the Pittsburgh Penguins was essential to the Kraken’s 3-2 win. He notched the primary assist on Seattle’s second goal with a kick pass off his shin pad to Yanni Gourde.
Not long after, the Pens answered back with a goal from Jake Guentzel, making the game even. Tanev still had time to be the hero in this game.
Avoiding overtime, he scored a beautiful game-winning goal, over the shoulder of goalie Tristan Jarry, late in the third period. This goal earned the Kraken another two points and a perfect road trip.
Oliver Bjorkstrand (3a)
After a five-game scoring drought, some might have assumed that Oliver Bjorkstrand had gone cold. However, he heated back up in Calgary. Bjorkstrand had a big hand behind major goals for the Seattle Kraken in their toughest game of the week.
Despite what the score may say, Seattle was dominated by the Flames throughout the majority of the game. Calgary generated more chances, won more draws, and controlled the game for most of the 60-minute contest.
It was Bjorkstrand’s efforts during that game, however, that turned it around for his team. Not only did he assist in the team’s opening score, but he was also the driving force behind the Seattle Kraken making a comeback.
His secondary assist on Daniel Sprong‘s goal sparked a fire that led to three consecutive goals and an improbable come-from-behind win. This performance earned him the third star of the night.
In the next game against the Minnesota Wild, he made the score sheet again, snagging the secondary assist on Alexander Wennberg‘s power-play goal.