Kraken shock Rangers with stunning second-period comeback

On December 8, 2024, at Madison Square Garden in New York, the Seattle Kraken achieved a significant win against the New York Rangers, overcoming their prior poor performance at the venue. Previously, the Kraken had lost all three games they played in the Garden since their inception. However, in a dramatic second period of the game, the Kraken turned a 3-1 deficit into a commanding lead by scoring four goals in just 20 minutes. This decisive moment came as the Rangers struggled with defensive breakdowns and a series of key turnovers that allowed the Kraken to capitalize on their chances. Coach Peter Laviolette noted the importance of better defensive play, especially as the critical opportunities given to the Kraken ultimately resulted in several goals against his team. The Kraken's comeback began with Brandon Tanev scoring at the 14:06 mark of the second period, which ignited a flurry of goals. The speed at which they scored raised concerns for the Rangers, who had initially controlled the game. Eeli Tolvanen followed Tanev's goal shortly after, further exploiting gaps in the Rangers' defense. Oliver Bjorkstrand’s second goal capped the period with the Kraken taking a 4-3 lead, demonstrating how quickly the game had shifted. As the game progressed into the third period, the Rangers struggled to reclaim their footing. A long-range one-timer from Vince Dunn extended the Kraken's lead, and Shane Wright's goal pushed it to 6-3. Throughout the game, the Rangers displayed a pattern of inconsistency and vulnerability in their defensive strategies, which were glaringly evident during this challenging stretch. Laviolette emphasized that the chances and goals were closely aligned, implying that the inability to adequately defend played a critical role in the defeat. Meanwhile, the Rangers played without their star goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who missed the game due to personal reasons as his wife gave birth to their second child. His absence was felt, prompting the Rangers to recall Dylan Garand from their AHL team as a backup goalie for Jonathan Quick. The Rangers’ struggles were exacerbated by this circumstance, as they faced the need to adjust player roles mid-game. Furthermore, Connor Mackey was called up as an extra defenseman following the return of Matthew Robertson to the Wolf Pack. This situation led the Rangers to confront not just the on-ice challenges but also the implications of key personnel changes during a critical matchup against a rival team.