The Kraken have started the 2021 playoffs with a bang, defeating the Vancouver Canucks in a thrilling opening game. The Kraken, who are making their first-ever playoff appearance, were led by a stellar performance from goaltender Ilya Samsonov, who made 33 saves to secure the victory.
The Kraken opened the scoring in the first period with a goal from forward Jakub Vrana. Vrana was able to get his stick on a loose puck in front of the net and put it past Canucks goaltender Braden Holtby. The goal gave the Kraken an early lead, and they never looked back.
The second period saw the Kraken extend their lead to two goals, courtesy of forward Tom Wilson. Wilson was able to get a shot off from just outside the crease and beat Holtby to make it 2-0.
The Canucks tried to mount a comeback in the third period, but the Kraken defense held strong. The Canucks were able to get one goal back, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the two-goal deficit.
The Kraken were able to close out the game and secure the victory, thanks in large part to Samsonov’s stellar performance in net. The young goaltender was able to make key saves throughout the game, and his efforts were rewarded with the win.
The Kraken now have a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. They will look to build on this victory and take a commanding lead in the series when they face off against the Canucks in Game 2 on Thursday night.
