Brandon Tanev scored twice, including the game-clinching empty-netter as the Seattle Kraken registered their first-ever win in team history with a 4-3 win over the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.
Alex Wennberg and Jared McCann each had a goal and an assist and Phillip Grubauer stopped 27 shots as Seattle continued their season-opening five-game road trip while the final renovations to Climate Pledge Arena are completed.
Roman Josi, Eeli Tolvanen and Mikael Granlund scored for Nashville. Granlund and Filip Forsberg each picked up two assists and Juuse Saros made 23 saves as the Predators lost for just the second time in their last nine home openers.
Story of the game
After some back-and-forth exchanges to open the game, Nashville struck first as Tolvanen off of a faceoff to get the Predators out to a 1-0 lead. Neither goaltender had much to do after that with Saros seeing a bit of traffic in front of him.
Nashville's penalty woes that troubled them last season continued into this game as Yakov Trenin was assessed a double minor after a fight with Vince Dunn. Seattle took full advantage as McCann beat a screened Saros.
The Kraken took their first lead in franchise history on their second power play of the period. A rebound flew across the ice and Seattle was able to collect the puck that McCann eventually potted to make it 2-1 after the first period.
A more assertive Nashville team came out for the second period, forcing Grubauer into more saves than he had in the first over the opening couple of minutes. Tanner Jeannot wasted a great chance and Adam Larsson put the Predators on the power play after being called for cross-checking.
Forsberg drew another Seattle penalty and the hosts tied it up when Josi's one-timer beat Grubauer. Despite having some good chances still on the power play, they were unable to convert.
A couple of turnovers and some completely blown coverage gave Wennberg time to set up and he beat Saros to put the Kraken back in front 3-2. Saros saved from Morgan Geekie and covered up on the rebound, as well.
With six minutes left in regulation, Matt Duchene nearly tied the game, taking a pass from Josi, but he shot just wide. Two minutes later, he then missed by inches again and Tolvanen and Philip Tomasino were stoned by Grubauer.
Saros was pulled and on their first shot of the period, Tanev hit the open net and despite Granlund making it a one-goal game with less than a minute to play, the Kraken hung on for their historic victory.