Chandler Stephenson sealed a dramatic 4-3 shootout victory for the Seattle Kraken over the St. Louis Blues on Sunday, scoring the decisive goal in the seventh round to secure just Seattle’s second shootout win of the season.
Stephenson’s low shot beat Jordan Binnington under the right pad, and Jimmy Snuggerud missed wide on the Blues’ final attempt, ending the contest. The win not only marked a moral victory for a Kraken squad long eliminated from playoff contention—it also dealt a major blow to the Blues’ playoff hopes, denying them a critical point in the tight Western Conference race.
“We knew the stakes and wanted to play spoiler a bit,” said
Shane Wright,
who netted the game-tying goal in the third period.
Kraken Show Late-Season Grit in Shootout Victory
Seattle’s shootout win is their first since October and a rare bright spot in a tough season. Philipp Grubauer stopped 20 of 23 shots and turned away the final five attempts he faced in the shootout—an emotional outing that may be his last with the Kraken as speculation swirls around a possible offseason buyout.
“Grubi didn’t feel 100%, but he battled and gave us a chance all night,” head coach Dan Bylsma said postgame. “He showed the goaltender he can still be.”
Game Breakdown: Third-Period Fireworks and Shootout Drama
The game started with a defensive battle through two periods, with Jaden Schwartz scoring his 25th goal of the season to give Seattle a 1-0 lead heading into the third. Things escalated quickly in the final frame with five goals scored in the first 10 minutes, including three in just 50 seconds.
- Radek Faksa tied the game 1-1 for the Blues early in the third after a lucky bounce.
- Mikey Eyssimont gave Seattle a brief 2-1 lead with a rebound goal.
- Colton Parayko and Nick Leddy answered quickly for St. Louis, turning the tide to a 3-2 lead.
- Seattle responded with
Shane Wright’s controversial equalizer, a deflection off his skate that was confirmed after review.
“I wasn’t trying to kick it,” Wright explained. “I was definitely a little nervous during the review.”
Shootout Summary
- Eeli Tolvanen opened the shootout with a slick goal for Seattle.
- Jake Neighbors responded for St. Louis.
- Robert Thomas briefly gave the Blues a lead with a banked-in goal.
- Kaapo Kakko extended the shootout in round three.
- After a scoreless stretch, Chandler Stephenson delivered the game-winner in round seven.
Stats & Highlights
- Seattle Kraken: Improve to 2-4 in shootouts this season.
- Jaden Schwartz: 25 goals, tying his second-highest season total.
- Philipp Grubauer: 20 saves, plus clutch performance in the shootout.
- St. Louis Blues: Lose a crucial point in the Western Conference Wild Card race.
Coach’s Outlook
Despite being out of playoff contention, head coach
Dan Bylsma
sees value in the team’s strong finish.
“We’re playing with pride, proving we’re better than our record. That momentum matters heading into next season.”
