San Jose Sharks Blank Seattle Kraken 2-0 in Hard-Fought Match

San Jose, CA – In a thrilling showdown between the San Jose Sharks and the Seattle Kraken, the Sharks emerged victorious with a 2-0 win on Tuesday night. Mackenzie Blackwood’s outstanding performance in goal, making 32 saves, combined with a goal from Vlasic and an empty-net goal, secured the win for the Sharks. It was an important victory for the Sharks, who are currently at the bottom of the NHL standings.

Blackwood’s shutout was his first since December 2021, marking San Jose’s first shutout of the season. The Kraken outshot the Sharks throughout the game, but Blackwood’s exceptional play prevented any goals against. Despite a strong offensive effort, the Kraken couldn’t find the back of the net, and their goaltender Daccord stopped 20 shots in the losing effort.

Vlasic broke the scoreless tie with a wrist shot from the left point, beating Daccord high blocker side. Rutta extended his point streak with a late goal to seal the victory for the Sharks. Coach David Quinn praised the team’s resilience and improvement, highlighting their ability to close out games effectively.

The Kraken’s loss comes as a setback in their bid for a playoff spot, as they are now trailing teams like the Wild, Avalanche, and Blues by two points in the Western Conference. Despite their recent winning streak, the Kraken have lost six of their last eight games.

Seattle coach Dave Hakstol acknowledged the Sharks’ strong performance and their defensive efforts, as well as Blackwood’s outstanding saves that proved to be the difference in the game. The Kraken will have a chance to regroup during the All-Star break before facing the Philadelphia Flyers in their next match.

The Sharks, on the other hand, will face the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night, looking to build on their recent success and climb further in the standings. With the team missing their leading scorer, Thomas Hertl, due to a lower-body injury, the Sharks will need to rely on their collective effort to secure another victory.