The Seattle Kraken made a statement in their first-ever NHL game, and it was largely thanks to goaltender Philipp Grubauer. Grubauer was outstanding in the Kraken’s 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks, making 35 saves and keeping the Sharks off the board until late in the third period.
Grubauer was acquired by the Kraken in the offseason as part of a trade with the Colorado Avalanche. He had been a key part of the Avalanche’s success over the past few seasons, and the Kraken were hoping he could bring that same level of play to Seattle. He certainly did that in Game 1, as he was a brick wall in net for the Kraken.
Grubauer was especially impressive in the first period, where he made 15 saves and kept the Sharks off the board. He was able to make several big saves to keep the game scoreless heading into the second period. He continued his strong play in the second period, making several more key saves to keep the Sharks from taking the lead.
Grubauer’s performance was even more impressive considering he had only been with the team for a few weeks before the start of the season. He had to quickly learn a new system and get used to his new teammates, but he was able to do that and put together an outstanding performance in Game 1.
The Kraken will need Grubauer to be at his best if they want to have success this season, and he certainly showed that he can be a difference maker in Game 1. He was able to keep the Sharks off the board for most of the game, and his performance was a big reason why the Kraken were able to come away with a win in their first-ever NHL game.
