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Sunrise Rust: Kraken Take Down the Florida Panthers

Originally posted on Florida Hockey Now | Last updated Feb 23, 2025 11:11 AM ET

SUNRISE — After a two-week break, watching Saturday’s game between the Florida Panthers and Seattle Kraken brought to mind a quote from the lunch lady in the movie Billy Madison.

“I made ‘em extra sloppy for ya!’ she says before doling out some sloppy joes.

Saturday was certainly on the sloppy side.

Passes were missed, players stumbled, and the action just was not there for much of the night.

Hey, at least you were warned.

In the end, the Kraken scored in the third and, despite Florida playing with an extra attacker for much of the final 3 minutes, lost 2-1 to Seattle.

Seattle led 1-0 on a power-play goal from Kappo Kakko at 6:32 of the first before Eetu Luostarinen tied it in the second.

Former Panthers forward Jared McCann — traded to Pittsburgh in the Nick Bjugstad deal in 2019 — gave the Kraken a 2-1 lead on a shot off Sergei Bobrovsky’s stick at 7:03 of the third.

Florida had won five of six coming into Saturday.

GAME NOTES: KRAKEN @ PANTHERS

The Panthers honored both Brandon Montour and Josh Mahura during timeouts in the first period with video tributes. Montour got a rousing ovation, skating around the ice pointing his stick in the air and clapping to acknowledge the fans.
Both Montour and Mahura were Stanley Cup champions with the Panthers last season and were playing in their first game back in Sunrise.
Mackie Samoskevich scored to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead at 16:55 of the second, but Seattle won its goalie interference challenge — even though Evan Rodrigues was pushed into Joey Daccord by Mahura.
Said the NHL: Video review determined Evan Rodrigues’ presence in the crease and his contact on Joey Daccord’s stick impaired his ability to play his position prior to Mackie Samoskevich’s goal.

HOW THEY SCORED

Kraken 1, Panthers 0 (6:32 1st PP): After Florida fails to clear the puck, Matty Beniers finds a wide-open Kappo Kakko alone in the left circle. He walks in on Sergei Bobrovsky and beats him 5-hole with 11 seconds left in the Nate Schmidt penalty.
Panthers 1, Kraken 1 (11:37 2nd): Team Finland gets this one going, Niko Mikkola feeding Anton Lundell on the rush — with him finding a charging Eetu Luostarinen right in front of the net.
Kraken 2, Panthers 1 (7:03 3rd): Jared McCann rips a shot from the left circle, the puck going off the stick of Bobrovsky and in.