In an impressive display of skill, Shane Wright scored two goals, leading the Seattle Kraken to a 4-2 victory against the Los Angeles Kings on March 15, 2024. The win marked a significant turnaround for the Kraken, who had just suffered a 4-2 defeat to the Anaheim Ducks the previous day, snapping a four-game winning streak.
Wright’s contributions were pivotal, alongside goals from Adam Larsson and Vince Dunn. Chandler Stephenson and Frederick Gaudreau each provided two assists, while goaltender Joey Daccord made 25 saves to secure the victory for Seattle. The Kings, who have lost three of their last four games, saw Andrei Kuzmenko score twice on his 30th birthday, with Kevin Fiala contributing two assists and Darcy Kuemper stopping 19 shots.
The game began with the Kings taking an early lead. Kuzmenko capitalized on a power play, maneuvering the puck from above the right circle to just below the dot before expertly sliding a wrist shot through Kuemper’s pads at 7:42 in the first period, making it 1-0.
Momentum shifted quickly when Kraken forward Ryan Winterton intercepted a pass from Kings defenseman Jacob Moverare. Winterton fed the puck to Wright, who demonstrated remarkable finesse by pulling it to his backhand and lifting it into the net, equalizing the score at 1-1 at 9:16.
Seattle then surged ahead within the same period. At 10:14, Stephenson set up Larsson, who delivered a powerful one-timer from the right hash marks, pushing the Kraken into a 2-1 lead. Just over five minutes later, Dunn extended the lead to 3-1. He navigated through three Kings players in the offensive zone and scored with a backhand shot, again finding the gap between Kuemper’s pads at 15:21.
The second period saw Kuzmenko strike again, netting his second goal with a one-timer during a power play at 10:27, narrowing the gap to 3-2. The Kings attempted to regain control, but Wright’s second goal came during a power play at 5:50 in the third period, restoring a two-goal advantage for Seattle at 4-2.
Any hopes of a Kings comeback were dashed when forward Adrian Kempe received a double-minor penalty for high-sticking with just 4:21 remaining in the game. This penalty left Los Angeles shorthanded and unable to mount a significant challenge.
Following this victory, the Kraken will take a three-week break before returning to the ice, while the Kings are set to face the Vegas Golden Knights on March 16, 2024, in their last game before the same break. The upcoming weeks will be critical for both teams as they strategize for the remainder of the season.
