Jordan Eberle Shines as Seattle Kraken Extend Winning Streak Against Struggling Kings

The ice at Crypto.com Arena saw a thrilling National Hockey League (NHL) matchup where Jordan Eberle once again proved to be a pivotal force for the Seattle Kraken. His crucial goal contributed to the Kraken’s dominant 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, marking Seattle’s third consecutive win and extending the Kings’ recent struggles.

This hard-fought win underscores the Kraken’s growing momentum, especially on the road, where they now boast a 5-3-1 record in their last nine away games. For the Kings, however, the defeat further highlights a challenging period, having lost six of their last seven contests.

Eberle’s Impact: Igniting the Kraken Offence

The turning point arrived early in the second period when Jordan Eberle capitalized on a power play opportunity. Just 1:10 in, Eberle found himself with space near the crease and unleashed a precise wrist shot over Pheonix Copley’s left shoulder for his 13th goal of the season. This power-play marker was significant, reflecting the Kraken’s recent efficiency with the man-advantage, converting five goals in their last six games (5-for-14, 35.7%).

Goaltender Joey Daccord was a true standout, making an impressive 35 saves to anchor the Kraken’s defence. His post-game sentiments captured the team’s high spirits:

“Three big wins to go into the break, breaking the back-to-back (losing) streak, we’re feeling pretty good right now. When it’s a collective effort like that, that’s how we win. We’re a team that needs everyone going every night, from the net out. And I think these last three games, you saw that, and we executed. And it’s fun to see the guys get rewarded.”

Beyond Eberle, Frederick Gaudreau and Ben Meyers also found the back of the net for Seattle, showcasing a comprehensive team effort that is clearly paying dividends.

Kings’ Defensive Struggles and Coach’s Dilemma

For the Los Angeles Kings, the narrative continues to be one of frustration. Despite a strong start to the season, their recent form (1-4-2 in their last seven) is cause for concern. A key area of vulnerability for the Kings has been their penalty kill, which has surrendered a power-play goal in four straight games, ranking 21st in the NHL at 78.0% efficiency.

Kings head coach Jim Hiller openly addressed these challenges, emphasizing the need for introspection:

“There’s always discussion, and you’re always thinking about what can we do differently? Or sometimes it’s not even different, it’s just better. And so we have to make sure, we have to understand, is it different, or is it just doing it better?”

Offensively, the Kings struggled to break through Daccord, being held to two goals or fewer for the seventh consecutive game. Kevin Fiala and Andrei Kuzmenko managed to score for Los Angeles, with Fiala nearly tying the game in the dying seconds, hitting the crossbar.

Key Game Moments and Milestones

• Gaudreau’s Lucky Bounce: Frederick Gaudreau extended Seattle’s lead to 2-0 when a shot deflected off Brian Dumoulin’s stick, fluttering past Copley’s glove and through the five-hole.
• Meyers’ Deflected Goal: Ben Meyers made it 3-0 for the Kraken, as his centering pass on a 2-on-1 for Gaudreau deflected off Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson and into the net.
• Kings’ Late Rally: Kevin Fiala and Andrei Kuzmenko led a late charge, with Kuzmenko’s wraparound goal in the third period narrowing the deficit to 3-2.
• Beniers’ Century Mark: Seattle centre Matty Beniers recorded his 100th NHL assist in his 284th career game. He is only the second player from the 2021 NHL Draft to achieve this milestone, alongside Dallas Stars centre Wyatt Johnston. (Source: NHL.com Stats)
• Doughty’s Consistency: Kings defenseman Drew Doughty earned his 10th assist of the season, marking his 18th consecutive NHL season with at least ten assists. This places him among an elite group as the 23rd defenseman in league history to achieve this feat. (Read More on NHL.com)
• Tolvanen’s Streak: Kraken forward Eeli Tolvanen extended his assist streak to five games, tallying two assists in this game and accumulating seven points (one goal, six assists) during this impressive run.
• Catton’s Return: Berkly Catton, Kraken forward, made his return to action after missing eight games due to an upper-body injury, registering two shots in 12:28 of ice time.

The Seattle Kraken’s collective effort, highlighted by Jordan Eberle’s scoring touch and Joey Daccord’s goaltending brilliance, has propelled them into a strong position heading into the break. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Kings face an urgent need to address their defensive lapses and offensive dry spell to regain their earlier season form. The ‘playoff hockey’ intensity, as described by Matty Beniers when facing the Kings, suggests these teams will continue to deliver captivating matchups.