Kraken and Kings combine for 17 goals on Tuesday night

In Wednesday’s edition of Daily Faceoff Live, Frank Seravalli and Mike McKenna talked about the wildest game of the NHL season thus far and whether the Seattle Kraken are a legitimate playoff contender.

Seravalli: “Let’s start with that wild 17-goal affair. In case you missed it, the Seattle Kraken beat the Los Angeles Kings by a score of 9-8. It was 3-3 after one period, 8-6 after two and it ends up in overtime. It’s only the 12th time in the last 35 years in the NHL that a game has had at least 17 goals scored.

When you slice it all down, what do you see from that game? And if you’re the goalies in the nets, specifically Martin Jones, what are you feeling?”

McKenna: “You just allowed eight goals but you’re thankful that you won. Was the goaltending great? No. Was the defensive coverage great? No.

If you’re Martin Jones, I think you look at it and think ‘I’m glad that one’s over.’ Sometimes, these games take on a life of their own, for the players, for everybody involved. I’ve been in those games and you can just never predict what’s going to happen next, so it’s tough to make a save.

Jones was the first goalie since 1991 to allow eight goals in a game and come out victorious.

For me, it all boils on to this, it was a great call from John Forslund: ‘It’s the most unusual night you’ll ever see.’ In 2022, to see a game with 17 goals? That’s pretty accurate.”

Seravalli: “Kevin Fiala and Jordan Eberle each with four-point nights, 23 different players of the 36 skaters that were dressed for the game registered at least one point.

What does this do for the Kraken, who have now beaten the Kings in three games to start the season? What does that do for them in the standings?”

McKenna: “The Kraken, you look at where they’re headed, this team is looking more and more like a playoff club, at least in terms of their wins and points. But can they really do it defensively? Yesterday on my goalie matchup on Daily Faceoff, I had Jonathan Quick and Martin Jones and said this was going to be a high-scoring game.

Seattle has been pretty resilient. They’re finding ways. The names of players putting up points, Andre Burakovsky had another two goals, Matty Beniers is on a multi-game point streak, Jared McCann, Jordan Eberle, there are players on Seattle who are performing at a very high level right now. If they can tighten up defensively, this is looking like a playoff team.”

Seravalli: “I’m not convinced, given the teams behind them in the Pacific Division standings. Also, the lack of star power the Kraken have. They have one, Matty Beniers, who’s growing into a star, he’s a fantastic player, but he isn’t a star just yet. I think they’re kind of missing that up front, along with some of those defensive deficiencies you mentioned.”