Kraken’s Third-Period Rally Delivers Shootout Win Over Golden Knights, Tortorella’s First Loss

Stone’s Two Goals Ignite Vegas’ Strong Start (Image Credits: Pixabay)

Seattle – The Vegas Golden Knights surrendered a two-goal advantage late in the third period before dropping a 4-3 shootout decision to the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night at Climate Pledge Arena.[1][2] The setback marked the first defeat for new head coach John Tortorella and halted a four-game winning streak.[3] Vegas still claimed a valuable point in the standings, remaining tied for second in the Pacific Division with three regular-season games left.

Stone’s Two Goals Ignite Vegas’ Strong Start

Captain Mark Stone delivered a standout performance early, scoring both of Vegas’ first-period and second-period goals to build a solid foundation. At 10:04 of the opening frame, Stone wristed a shot past Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord after a pass from defenseman Rasmus Andersson found him in the slot.[1] The tally marked Stone’s 25th goal of the season.

Just 55 seconds into the second period on the power play, Stone backhanded a loose puck in the crease to extend the lead to 2-0. The multi-goal effort was his fifth of the season and his 19th career two-goal game with the Golden Knights, tying him with Max Pacioretty for third on the franchise list.[2] Vegas controlled much of the play through two periods, limiting Seattle’s chances while Adin Hill turned aside all 10 shots in the first period alone.

Howden Extends Lead, But Kraken Strikes Back

Brett Howden pushed the advantage to 3-1 just 1:11 into the third when a Mitch Marner pass deflected off Pavel Dorofeyev’s stick and into the net off Howden’s skate.[1] The goal, Howden’s third in four games, appeared to seal a regulation victory as Vegas sought to drain Seattle’s momentum.

Seattle refused to fade. At 6:11, rookie Berkly Catton capitalized on a bizarre bounce off a stanchion after Adam Larsson’s dump-in, slipping the puck into an empty net when Hill chased the puck behind the goal.[1] Minutes later, at 9:16, Bobby McMann snapped a shot from the right circle through a screen to tie the score at 3-3. The two goals came in a span of 3:05, forcing overtime.[2]

Shootout Heartbreak for Vegas

Overtime solved nothing, with Hill making massive stops to preserve the point and force a shootout.[1] Seattle struck first through Matty Beniers and Jared McCann, while Vegas failed to convert in the early rounds. In the fifth and decisive attempt, Catton deked Hill to his left and chipped the puck over the sprawling goaltender for the winner. Daccord then denied Pavel Dorofeyev to seal the Kraken victory.[1]

Tortorella Brushes Off Setback Amid Tight Schedule

John Tortorella, hired on March 31 to replace Bruce Cassidy and inject energy into the squad, absorbed his first loss without panic. The 67-year-old veteran, who boasts 771 career wins and a 2004 Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay, guided Vegas to four straight triumphs before this result.[4] Post-game, he credited Seattle’s surge: “Give them credit, they surge at certain times, and they’re a fast team, so I’m not going to overdissect it. It’s not the time of year to be overdissecting.”[1]

Tortorella added, “We score one early in the (third) period to go up by two. We’re looking to try to take the will away from them, they get a bounce… It gives them some life, so nothing we can do. We’ll take the point and get out of here.”[1] Forward Brett Howden echoed the sentiment: “For the most part of the game, I liked our intentions and the way we were trying to play… And we got a point, which is huge.” Mitch Marner praised Hill: “Hill made some massive saves there, obviously, to keep that game (alive in overtime) to go to a shootout… We had good opportunities, we just didn’t capitalize.”[1]

Point Keeps Vegas in Playoff Hunt

Both teams finished with strong goaltending, as Hill stopped 31 of 34 shots and Daccord matched him with 31 saves.[1] Power plays split 1-for opportunities apiece. The loss dropped Vegas to 36-26-17, tied with Anaheim for second in the Pacific, one point behind Edmonton with three games remaining.

• Mark Stone’s two goals highlighted Vegas’ offensive spark.
• Seattle’s third-period goals came from bounces and screens, showcasing resilience.
• Adin Hill’s overtime heroics ensured at least one point.
• Catton’s shootout winner proved decisive for the Kraken.
• Tortorella’s steady approach signals focus on the playoffs.

The Golden Knights head to Colorado next, where lessons from this resilient Kraken effort could fuel their late-season charge. A point salvaged from potential defeat keeps playoff hopes alive – what adjustments will Tortorella make? Tell us in the comments.