VANCOUVER, British Columbia – There were omens throughout this latest Northwest clash that the Kraken might finally prevail against a regional nemesis that’s had their number all five prior matchups in their brief history.
If it wasn’t the 75-foot snap shot goal by Jared McCann to open Thursday night’s scoring, or the fact it took the Vancouver Canucks more than eight minutes to register a single shot, then goals just 10 seconds apart by Oliver Bjorkstrand and Daniel Sprong in the second period plus another soon after by Alex Wennberg should have settled things. But the omens are never all good for the Kraken when playing the Canucks and despite a two-goal third period lead, they coughed it up and took a 6-5 loss in a shootout when Elias Pettersson scored to complete the home side’s unlikely comeback.
“They had a push and they capitalized on their chances,” Sprong said in a deathly quiet visitors locker room as the Kraken hurriedly packed in anticipation of the Christmas break now upon them. “Sometimes, that’s the way hockey goes but of course it’s not the way we want to end going into the break.
