Three Stars of Week 4: Seattle Kraken Secure Six Points on Road Trip
Second Star of the Week: Yanni Gourde (2g, 3a)
Yanni Gourde started the season a little cold but has recently started to heat up. He was easily the Seattle Kraken’s best forward this week, putting up five points. His two goals and three added helpers earned him our second star of the week.
Justin Schultz took an untimely hooking penalty about halfway through the third period. As Gourde came off the bench, he snuck up on an unsuspecting Nazem Kadri and stole the puck. He raced to the net and sniped a wrist shot past Daniel Vladar for a shorthanded goal.
He continued his point streak into the next game against the Minnesota Wild. A poor line change from Minnesota late in the second period cost them greatly. ‘
The Seattle Kraken cashed in on the Wild’s mistake, creating a 4-on-2 breakaway. Yanni Gourde stuck with the puck and set up Jamie Oleksiak with the perfect pass across the ice, giving the Kraken their second goal in what would be a 4-0 shutout.
Just a few days later, Gourde played his best game of the season, snagging 3 points from the 3-2 win over Pittsburgh. Sidney Crosby scored the game’s opening goal early in the second period. Vince Dunn answered in short order after a faceoff win from Gourde.
He scored his second goal of the season at 7:48 of the third. A kick pass from Tanev found him at the front of the net.
Gourde returned the favor to help win the game. He got the puck to the front of the next for Turbo, who scored a goal very similar to the one Yanni did earlier in the period.