The Vancouver Canucks secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory against the Seattle Kraken on March 11, 2024, thanks to a decisive shootout goal from Liam Ohgren. Goaltender Kevin Lankinen played a pivotal role, making 37 saves to help the Canucks end the Kraken’s four-game winning streak.
In a tightly contested match at Climate Pledge Arena, both teams showcased their skill and determination. The Canucks took the lead in regulation with goals from Linus Karlsson and Elias Pettersson, while the Kraken responded with efforts from Jared McCann and Ryan Winterton.
The game kicked off with an intense pace. At 8:50 in the first period, McCann found the back of the net with a powerful slap shot on the power play, marking his first goal since returning from injury. He had missed seven games earlier in the month. The atmosphere intensified when McCann and Conor Garland engaged in a fight with 4:43 left in the period, seemingly a response to an earlier unpenalized elbowing incident involving Garland.
Following the altercation, Karlsson capitalized on the momentum shift, scoring on the next faceoff to level the game at one. Just 20 seconds later, Winterton put the Kraken back in front, making it 2-1 with a late first-period goal.
The second period saw another twist as Pettersson tied the game again, beating Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord cleanly from the slot just 5:23 into the frame. This set the stage for a tense final period, which remained scoreless through regulation and overtime.
In the shootout, Ohgren emerged as the hero, delivering the only goal to clinch the victory for Vancouver. The Canucks now prepare to host the Philadelphia Flyers on March 12, while the Kraken will face the Nashville Predators on March 14.
The match underscored the competitive spirit in the NHL, highlighting the individual talents of players like Lankinen and Ohgren while reflecting the tightly contested nature of the league this season.
