Daccord Earns An Assist, Kraken Win 4-2 Over Penguins

Pittsburgh, PA – In a matchup that carried heavy implications for two teams desperate for points, the Pittsburgh Penguins hosted the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night at PPG Paints Arena. It was the first of two encounters between the two teams in an 11-day stretch, with the Penguins looking to climb up the standings while the Kraken sought to find some rhythm in their inconsistent season.

Early Surge by Stephenson – The game got off to an electric start just 2:12 into the first period, as Seattle’s Chandler Stephenson marked a milestone with his 300th career NHL point. A quick wrist shot found the back of the net behind Pittsburgh goalie Tristan Jarry, giving the Kraken an early 1-0 lead. It was Stephenson’s sixth goal of the season, but it was also a moment of personal triumph for the veteran forward.

What made the goal even more special for the Kraken was the assist that came from none other than Joey Daccord. The Seattle goaltender notched his first point of the season, playing a critical role in the play as he passed the puck up the ice to Jared McCann, who in turn sent it to Stephenson for the finish.

Tomasino Responds, Penguins Regain Lead – The Penguins, however, were not about to let the Kraken take control easily. At 9:19 of the first period, Pittsburgh forward Philip Tomasino made his mark, poking a rebound past Daccord to tie the game at 1-1. It was a gritty, opportunistic play that demonstrated the Penguins’ ability to capitalize on any mistake. The game settled into a back-and-forth rhythm, with both teams vying for momentum.

Kraken’s Quick Response – Just when it appeared the Penguins might pull away, the Kraken struck back with a vengeance, and they did so in a remarkable, rapid-fire fashion. At 8:04 of the third, defenseman Jamie Oleksiak blasted a wrist shot past Jarry to tie the game at 2-2. But the Kraken were just getting started. Less than a minute later, at 8:54, winger Eeli Tolvanen delivered another quick blow, putting Seattle ahead 3-2 with another wrist shot that found its way past Jarry. The two goals in such quick succession turned the momentum squarely in the Kraken’s favor.

Kakko’s Icebreaker- With just under two minutes remaining in the third period, the Penguins pulled Jarry for an extra attacker, hoping to find the equalizer and force overtime. But instead, Seattle’s Kaapo Kakko sealed the deal, sending the puck into the empty net to give the Kraken the 4-2 win.

Despite Pittsburgh outshooting Seattle 33-18, the Penguins couldn’t respond. The Kraken’s defense held firm, with Joey Daccord making key stops when needed. Seattle’s 4-2 win provides a crucial boost on the road, but the team faces a tough challenge ahead, preparing to take on the Winnipeg Jets Thursday night, who currently sit atop the Central Division standings.

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