Jared McCann, Kraken avenge loss to Predators

We may earn a commission from links on this page.
Nov 2, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken left wing Jared McCann (19), right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (22) and defenseman Justin Schultz (4) celebrate after Bjorkstrand scored a goal against the Nashville Predators during the first period at Climate Pledge Arena.
Nov 2, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken left wing Jared McCann (19), right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (22) and defenseman Justin Schultz (4) celebrate after Bjorkstrand scored a goal against the Nashville Predators during the first period at Climate Pledge Arena.
Image: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Jared McCann had a goal and an assist as the Seattle Kraken returned home from a four-game trip and defeated the Nashville Predators 4-2 Thursday night.

Oliver Bjorkstrand, Brian Dumoulin and Vince Dunn also scored for Seattle, which won consecutive games for the first time this season and improved to 4-0-0 when scoring three or more goals. Goaltender Philipp Grubauer made 32 saves.

Advertisement

Tommy Novak and Roman Josi scored power-play goals for Nashville, which dropped to 0-2-0 on its five-game trip. Juuse Saros stopped 26 of 30 shots.

Advertisement

The Predators tied the score at 2-2 on Josi's one-timer from just outside the right faceoff dot at 16:34 of the second period.

Advertisement

Seattle regained the lead just 24 seconds later on Dumoulin's wrist shot from the top of the left faceoff circle past a screened Saros.

The Kraken made it 4-2 at 8:38 of third, following a faceoff win in the Nashville zone. Dunn's slap shot from the top of left faceoff circle beat Saros to the glove side.

Advertisement

Nashville opened the scoring at 6:35 of the first on a nifty passing play. Luke Evangelista skated from the point to the top of the left faceoff circle and sent a pass to Colton Sissons along the goal line on the wing. Sissons immediately sent the puck to Novak in the mid-slot and he put a one-timer just inside the right post past a sprawling Grubauer.

But the Kraken scored twice in the final 4:38 of the first to take a 2-1 lead.

Bjorkstrand scored on a wrist shot from the high slot through a maze of players and into the upper left corner of the net at 15:22 on the power play.

Advertisement

Seattle took the lead at 17:41 of the period on a two-on-one breakaway. Yanni Gourde carried the puck over the blue line on the left wing and floated a cross-ice pass to McCann for a one-timer that beat Saros to the near post. It was McCann's team-leading sixth goal of the season.

The Kraken avenged a 3-0 loss Oct. 12 in the Predators' home opener.

—Field Level Media

=