Seattle, WA – Thanks to a satisfying 4-2 victory over the aggressive Arizona Coyotes, the Seattle Kraken have clinched their first postseason berth in franchise history. Seattle will head to the playoffs in just their second season in NHL existence, getting to this point as a complete team that rolls deep with contributors all over its roster. The Kraken have shown that they don’t need a superstar to be successful, and it was the line of two formerly “bottom-six” skaters and Calder Trophy front runner Matty Beniers who tallied three of the four goals that Seattle scored in the win. With the win and their playoff ticket punched, the Kraken will learn their first-round opponent as the final week of the regular season is up next.
Seattle’s top line of Jared McCann, Matty Beniers, and Jordan Eberle came to play in this historic game for the franchise. One of, if not the most, productive groups for the Kraken, these three feature veterans in Eberle and McCann who have been able to revitalize their careers in Seattle. And then centering them, the young star Matty Beniers, Seattle’s first ever draft pick and the Calder Trophy front runner that could be the face of the Kraken franchise for years to come. The three combined for nearly all of the Seattle goals tonight, and perhaps it’s a bit fitting considering the production that they have all had for this team this season.
“You look at the leap that we made, I mean, it’s special,” said Kraken forward and alternate captain Jordan Eberle. “We’ve got a special group here, and I think from Day one, a lot of people have written us off. And to get to this point is obviously an accomplishment.”
Jared McCann began the scoring as the first period was winding down, as Beniers sprinted up ice to corral a loose puck behind the net, passing it to Eberle from behind the goal, who then found McCann open on the back door to give the Kraken a one-goal lead heading into intermission. Eberle got on the board next, on a play started by an excellent forecheck by Matty Beniers. Beniers took on two Coyotes skaters, Jared McCann was able to snag the loose puck and sling it to Eberle, who had acres and acres of space for Eberle to easily fire away and score. Finally, it was Beniers’ turn, flying down the ice on a breakaway to beat Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka and ice this victory.
Not only does this victory clinch the team’s first playoff berth in just its second playing year of existence as an NHL franchise, but it shows the type of turnaround that the Kraken have had. With many of the same faces still on this team from its inaugural group in 2021-22, Seattle acquired key additions in names like Andre Burakovsky, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Justin Schultz to help them get known veteran contributors that could help their near bottom of the league scoring and defense. They haven’t been the complete answer to the problems the Kraken faced last season, but their impact helped in putting the right pieces together for Seattle that have them ready to potentially surprise teams once the postseason begins.
“We’re new, right?” said Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol. “Everybody in this room a year and 10 months ago was new, but we’ve grown a little bit. So that belief has shown itself, and we probably put just a little building block of tradition in place by solidifying a playoff spot tonight.”
The next game for the Kraken comes on Saturday, April 8th, when the team hosts the Chicago Blackhawks in one of the last games they play in the regular season and the second to last one that they will host. Chicago, just like the last two teams Seattle has played in Arizona and Vancouver, has struggled all season. Taking into account that the Kraken have already secured their playoff berth, Seattle’s strategy may be a bit different when the puck drops on Saturday at 7PM PST takes place.
