Sharks 2023-24 Game 19 Recap: Kraken 7, Sharks 1 (11/22/23)

 The Sharks didn’t have much to show for in Seattle on Thanksgiving Eve, getting blown out 7-1 by the Kraken. 

The Kraken got on the board first about a minute-and-a-half into the game via Brandon Tanev. Jared McCann briefly extended Seattle’s lead to two, but this second goal was overturned due to offsides. The Kraken would get their two-goal lead back via Oliver Bjorkstrand later in the opening period. Soon after, Jan Rutta was crunched into a rounded corner of the boards and didn’t return to the game, and Adam Larsson scored to give the Kraken a 3-0 lead. Seattle capped off the first period with a fourth goal, this time from Yanni Gourde. 

Mackenzie Blackwood entered the game to start the second period, subbing for Kaapo Kahkonen. Kahkonen finished his night with 13 saves on 17 shots against, all in the first period. The Kraken scored one more in the second period via Jared McCann to make it 5-0 and too big of a hole for the Sharks to climb out of. The middle frame also featured a significant tilt at center ice between Kyle Burroughs and Brandon Tanev. 

The Kraken weren’t done yet, as Eeli Tolvanen would score in the third period for Seattle’s sixth goal of the night. Late in the third, the Sharks scored their only goal of the game on Mike Hoffman’s fourth of the year from Nikita Okhotiuk and Kyle Burroughs to avoid getting completely shut out. Soon after, the Kraken included the extra point on Eeli Tolvanen’s second goal of the game to put this one away for good. 

Mackenzie Blackwood finished his night with ten saves on 13 shots against in relief for Kahkonen. In addition, Kevin Labanc is out with an upper-body injury after being slewfooted by Nils Hoglander in Vancouver the other night. 

The Sharks return home for their next three games, starting on Black Friday against the Montreal Canadiens at 12:30 pm PT. 

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App 

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