SEATTLE — The Seattle Kraken delivered a commanding performance with a 7-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at Climate Pledge Arena on Thursday. Kailer Yamamoto’s two goals and Oliver Bjorkstrand’s goal and two assists were pivotal in securing the win for the Kraken.
The Kraken, now at 10-14-7, have found form with their second consecutive win following an eight-game losing streak. Goalie Joey Daccord contributed with 21 saves, anchoring the team’s strong defensive play.
For the Blackhawks, who are struggling at 9-19-1, it was a night to forget. Connor Bedard, their No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, saw his 10-game road point streak come to an end. Goalkeeper Arvid Soderblom faced a tough night, allowing seven goals on 24 shots before being replaced by Petr Mrazek in the third period.
Yamamoto opened the scoring for Seattle early in the first period, taking advantage of a deflected pass and beating Soderblom. He doubled the lead later in the period, capitalizing on a deflection for an easy finish.
The Blackhawks managed to cut the deficit with Taylor Raddysh scoring in the second period, but Seattle’s response was swift. Bjorkstrand’s goal, a fortunate deflection, restored the Kraken’s two-goal advantage.
Seattle continued their onslaught with Tye Kartye and Eeli Tolvanen adding to the tally, exploiting the Blackhawks’ defensive lapses. Jared McCann’s power-play goal and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare’s rebound shot in the third period sealed the emphatic 7-1 win.
The Kraken’s Will Borgen and Ryker Evans each provided two assists, showcasing Seattle’s depth and teamwork in the attacking phase.
This victory for the Kraken demonstrates their potential to bounce back from setbacks and deliver dominant performances. For the Blackhawks, the heavy loss underscores ongoing challenges this season, including the need for more consistency in both offense and defense.
