Jordan Eberle Sparks Seattle Kraken to Victory Over Ducks

The Seattle Kraken secured a crucial 3-1 victory against the Anaheim Ducks on December 18, 2023, with standout performances from forward Jordan Eberle. Eberle scored two goals in the third period, propelling the Kraken to their first consecutive wins in a month. This result marked only their third victory in the last 13 games, improving their record to 3-9-1 during that stretch.

Seattle’s win allowed them to move up from the bottom of the Pacific Division standings. The team’s success was underscored by the solid performance of goaltender Philipp Grubauer, who made an impressive 38 saves. Forward Freddy Gaudreau also contributed with a goal, while Kaapo Kakko provided two assists, showcasing a well-rounded team effort.

Eberle’s first goal came at 10:04 of the third period during an odd-man rush. Center Matty Beniers found Eberle on the left wing, and he skillfully placed a shot over Ducks’ goaltender Lukas Dostal, hitting the far upper corner of the net. Eberle later sealed the game with an empty-net goal at 19:25, marking his team-leading 12th goal of the season.

The Kraken opened the scoring on a power play at 4:49 of the second period. A shot from defenseman Ryker Evans deflected off a defenseman’s skate, leading to a scramble in front of the net. Kakko’s pass found Shane Wright, whose shot was initially saved by Dostal, but Gaudreau capitalized on the rebound, giving Seattle a 1-0 lead.

The Ducks responded at 15:40 in the second period when Mikael Granlund redirected a shot from Jacob Trouba past a blocked Grubauer, evening the score. Despite dominating the shot count 17-5 in the second period, Anaheim struggled to find the back of the net more than once.

Seattle’s defense faced challenges throughout the match, including the absence of defenseman Brandon Montour, who is expected to miss approximately four weeks following surgery for a broken hand. Additionally, Vince Dunn left the game early in the third period due to an apparent upper-body injury after a hard hit.

The game also marked the first missed match for Ducks forward Leo Carlsson, the team’s leading scorer, due to a lower-body injury. In his absence, Granlund centered the top line, while Jansen Harkins returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the previous nine games.

In summary, the Kraken’s victory against the Ducks not only highlights Eberle’s decisive contributions but also reflects a team beginning to regain momentum as they navigate the challenges of the Pacific Division. With this win, the Kraken look to build on their success and improve their position in the coming games.