KRAKEN

Early Seattle Kraken lead doesn’t hold up in 4-2 loss to Nashville

Jan 25, 2022, 10:13 PM

Seattle Kraken's Yanni Gourde (37) skates ahead of Nashville Predators' Matt Benning in the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Seattle Kraken's Adam Larsson (6) scores on Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros in the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Seattle Kraken's Mark Giordano (5) and Nashville Predators' Mikael Granlund leave the puck behind as they collide in the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Seattle. The Predators' won 4-2. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Seattle Kraken's Colin Blackwell, left, and Nashville Predators' Matt Duchene collide in the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Seattle. The Predators' won 4-2. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Seattle Kraken's Cale Fleury (8) stretches across the ice as he tries to reach the puck ahead of Nashville Predators' Roman Josi (59) and Matt Benning (5) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Seattle Kraken's Calle Jarnkrok (19) tumbles in front of Nashville Predators' Alexandre Carrier in the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros, right, stops a shot from Seattle Kraken's Yanni Gourde in the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Nashville Predators' Luke Kunin is congratulated after scoring against the Seattle Kraken in the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Nashville Predators' Matt Duchene (95) is congratulated after scoring against the Seattle Kraken by Ryan Johansen (92) and Filip Forsberg in the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
AP staff

SEATTLE (AP) — Mattias Ekholm scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period and the Nashville Predators beat the Seattle Kraken 4-2 on Tuesday night.

Nashville Predators 4, Seattle Kraken 2: Box score

The Predators also got goals from Filip Forsberg, Luke Kunin and Matt Duchene in their third straight win. Roman Josi added two assists, and Juuse Saros made 32 saves.

Jared McCann and Adam Larsson scored for the Kraken.

Seattle entered with three wins in the last four games, one of the best stretches of its inaugural season, and the Kraken took an early lead when McCann scored his team-leading 16th goal on a 5-on-3 power play nine minutes in.

Sweet 16 for number 16! 🎉

McCann nets his 16th goal of the season! pic.twitter.com/Ww1VQv0u8B

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) January 26, 2022

Nashville tied it 21 seconds before the first intermission on Kunin’s 10th goal, a one-timer from the top of the left circle.

Seattle again took the lead in the second, going ahead 2-1 when Yanni Gourde’s pass from behind the net found Larsson streaking in front with 7:39 left in the period.

light that lamp, lars! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/sqV8klZ10X

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) January 26, 2022

Forsberg tied it 2-all about three minutes later, taking the puck the entire length of the ice on a rush and finishing with his 21st goal.

The Predators took the lead with 3½ minutes left in the period. Ekholm came around behind the net and his wraparound shot deflected in off the skate of Seattle defenseman Vince Dunn.

Nashville added another power-play goal by Duchene with about four minutes to go in the third.

NOTES: Nashville recalled F Cole Smith and D Matt Tennyson from the taxi squad. … Seattle was down two of its top six defensemen. Jamie Oleksiak (lower body) is day-to-day and missed his fourth straight game. Carson Soucy (lower body) is week-to-week after getting hurt in the first period Sunday against Florida. … Kraken F Joonas Donskoi was back in the lineup. Donskoi was scratched Sunday after appearing in each of the first 40 games.

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