Seattle Kraken Get First-Ever Win vs. Predators
October 15, 2021
The Seattle Kraken earned their first win in franchise history on Thursday, topping the Nashville Predators 4-3 on the road.
Left wing Brandon Tanev led the way with two goals, with his second coming with 1:21 remaining in the game and proving to be the game-winner as Nashville scored less than a minute later.
The Kraken looked hungry for a win after losing their first game of the season against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday. With the Predators playing their first game of the year, Seattle was more acclimated to the game speed of the regular season.
After Nashville's Eeli Tolvanen opened the scoring, Jared McCann and Tanev answered with back-to-back goals to take a 2-1 lead after the first period. McCann's goal was Seattle's first-ever power-play goal.
The Predators tied the game early in the second period with a 5-on-3 power-play goal of their own by Roman Josi. But Alex Wennberg answered back off an assist from Alex Barre-Boulet.
Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer came up big with 12 of his 27 saves in the third period. Tanev's winner came on an empty-netter.
Mikael Granlund, who had two assists for Nashville, capped the scoring with 40 seconds remaining in the game. The Predators had another shot in the closing seconds but couldn't get past Grubauer.
The Kraken are the third expansion team to win their first game against the Predators, joining the Columbus Blue Jackets (Nov. 16, 2000) and Golden Knights (Dec. 8, 2017).
Seattle will continue its season-opening road trip on Saturday against the Blue Jackets.