The Seattle Kraken have had a tough start to their inaugural season in the NHL. After a promising start, they have been struggling to find the back of the net. That all changed on April 28th, when Eeli Tolvanen scored his first goal in the NHL, ending the Kraken’s scoring drought.
Tolvanen was acquired by the Kraken in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. He had previously played in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and was expected to bring some offensive firepower to the team. He had yet to score a goal in his first five games with the Kraken, but he finally broke through against the Anaheim Ducks.
The goal was a thing of beauty. Tolvanen received a pass from linemate J.T. Miller, and then proceeded to deke out Ducks goaltender John Gibson. Tolvanen then fired a shot into the top corner of the net, giving the Kraken a 1-0 lead.
The goal was a huge relief for the Kraken, who had been struggling to find the back of the net. It was also a huge moment for Tolvanen, who had been waiting for his first NHL goal. After the game, Tolvanen said, “It’s been a long time coming and I’m really happy to finally get it.”
The goal was also a sign of things to come for the Kraken. Since Tolvanen’s goal, they have gone on to win three of their last four games, and have scored at least three goals in each of those wins.
Eeli Tolvanen’s first goal in the NHL was a huge moment for both him and the Seattle Kraken. It ended their scoring drought and gave them some much-needed momentum heading into the final stretch of the season. It’s a moment that will be remembered for years to come in Seattle.
