SEATTLE (AP) — The New Jersey Devils snapped their four-game skid with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken on January 6, 2025. The win came as much-needed relief for the Devils, who were aiming to avoid their first five-game losing streak since February 2022.
Ondrej Palat scored the pivotal tiebreaking goal early in the third period, propelling New Jersey to victory. The game began dynamically, with Dawson Mercer opening the scoring at 7:56 of the first period. Mercer capitalized on a rebound near the goal, deftly maneuvering around Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer to net his 10th goal of the season.
Seattle responded swiftly with Adam Larsson tying the game at 15:47, shooting from the top of the left circle through traffic, beating Devils goalie Jacob Markstrom.
Leading 2-1 at the end of the second period, the Devils saw Paul Cotter take advantage of a breakaway opportunity, sliding the puck between Grubauer’s pads with just 25 seconds remaining. New Jersey appeared to be sitting comfortably with the lead until the Kraken mounted their comeback effort.
Shane Wright tied the score with a power-play goal just 1:24 seconds after the start of the third period, skillfully converting Kaapo Kakko’s saucer pass from the low slot past Markstrom. But just 37 seconds later, Palat restored the Devils’ lead, scoring after taking advantage of Jack Hughes’ drop pass for his first of the night.
Markstrom made 21 saves throughout the contest, showcasing his skillset when he executed key stops late, including two miraculous saves within minutes of each other, the first on Oliver Bjorkstrand’s scoring chance and then on Andre Burakovsky’s breakaway.
Reflecting on his performance, Markstrom said, “You’re trying to stop it, and you’re hoping to stop it, so when it happens, it’s always a good feeling.” His presence was certainly felt on the ice, and New Jersey forward Cotter was vocal about it, stating, “I was speechless on a couple of [the saves]. He saved me a couple dashes. I mean, we’re nowhere near a win without him tonight.”
The loss marked the Kraken's third consecutive defeat (0-2-1) and their record of two wins from the previous ten games stands at 2-7-1, putting the pressure on the team as they prepare for the next matchup.
Coach Sheldon Keefe commended his team for avoiding the meltdown during the latter stages of the game. “I’d say there’s good chunks of the game I thought we were in full control, and not really giving up anything for long stretches,” he noted. “Then we make a mistake, and it’s a pretty big mistake, so we’ve just got to keep piling up the positive plays and keep eliminating the negative ones.”
For Seattle, the performance was disappointing. Coach Dan Bylsma pointed out the need for his team to convert chances and close out games. “We withstood [New Jersey’s early pressure], and then you get a chance to battle back your own way, which I think we did.”
The game also featured notable moments off the ice, as the Kraken celebrated Pride Night, honoring the founders of the Seattle Pride Hockey Association. Combining community spirit with the intense competition on the ice, it was certainly a memorable night for fans.
The Devils' next challenge pits them against the New York Rangers, where they’ll look to build on this momentum, and for the Kraken, eyes are set on Columbus for their next game as the team desperately seeks to recalibrate their strategy moving forward. Last night's battle underscored the importance of discipline and strategy within the league, as both teams strive to solidify their standings.