McCann has 3 points, Kraken score 6 to hold off Sabres

Jared McCann had a goal and two assists for the Seattle Kraken in a 6-4 win against the Buffalo Sabres at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Monday.

“Not just him, but his line (with Shane Wright and Eeli Tolvanen) finding the offense is big,” Seattle coach Dan Bylsma said. “We want to be deep through our team, throughout our scoring, and Jared’s a big part of that. … [That goal], those assists were big to see us rounding out 12 guys, any given guy who can add to the scoresheet.”

Chandler Stephenson and Adam Larsson each had a goal and an assist, Matty Beniers scored, and Ryker Evans had two assists for the Kraken (21-24-3), who have won four of their past six games. Joey Daccord made 25 saves.

“I think the way we’re playing right now, we’re starting to come into our own, really starting to play together, play as a team, create momentum from every single line,” Beniers said. “You see every line contributing tonight, putting in goals. That’s the way we need to play, that’s our style, and we’re starting to find it here.”

Tage Thompson had a goal and an assist, Alex Tuch scored, and Peyton Krebs had two assists for the Sabres (17-24-5), who have lost three of four. Devon Levi made 28 saves in his first start for Buffalo since Dec. 15.

“I thought most of the goals, every goal there was a lost battle,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “You’re not going to win games. You lose the net-front battle for goals, you lost below-the-goal-line battles. Almost 90 percent of their opportunities were on the hands of us not winning a battle.”

Jack Quinn gave Buffalo a 1-0 lead at 5:07 of the first period when his shot from the center of the blue line deflected off McCann’s stick past Daccord’s glove.

John Hayden scored 27 seconds later to tie it 1-1, sweeping a rebound from the slot inside the right post at 5:34 for his first goal of the season.

Stephenson put Seattle ahead 2-1 at 11:06. Oliver Bjorkstrand’s shot from the slot hit Sabres defenseman Jacob Bryson and deflected to the right circle, where Stephenson one-timed it far side.

“I thought our execution in the first was terrible,” Thompson said. “… We were slow through the neutral zone, we were on the perimeter, held onto pucks too long, turned them over and just fueled their offense. I think we did a good job in between the first and the second regrouping, coming out and playing a good second period. Unfortunately, you’re just chasing the game at that point. When you’re chasing it, it’s tough.”

Beniers extended it to 3-1 with a power-play goal at 6:41 of the second period, scoring on a wrist shot from the slot over Levi’s right arm.

Jason Zucker cut it to 3-2 on the power play at 9:31 when he tipped a Rasmus Dahlin shot from in front.

Thompson tied it 3-3 at 15:38, scoring under Daccord’s right arm from the top of the right circle.

Jamie Oleksiak put the Kraken back ahead 4-3 at 16:34 when he took a pass from Wright at the left circle and scored on a snap shot far side.

“I thought there was a portion of the second period where things got a little sideways after the power play and them drawing even,” Bylsma said. “But the response goal by the ‘Wrighter’ line, there making that play to ‘Rig’ and ‘Rig’ scoring that goal was huge for us.”

Larsson extended it to 5-3 at 10:25 of the third period with a slap shot from the top of the right circle that deflected off Thompson and beat Levi five-hole.

With Levi pulled for the extra attacker, Tuch cut it to 5-4 at 18:39 after he swept in a rebound from in front.

McCann then scored an empty-net goal 17 seconds later at 18:56 for the 6-4 final.

“I didn’t really like our start,” Zucker said. “We weren’t winning enough battles, we weren’t playing quick enough. … I think our forwards weren’t doing a good enough job coming back and getting speed so our forechecks were basically non-existent. Got us behind the eight ball a little bit, but it was nice that we battled back. Unfortunate bounce on one, hits [Thompson’s] stick and goes five-hole. but at the same time, a lot of self-inflicted mistakes tonight.”

NOTES: Thompson reached 20 goals for the fourth straight season, becoming the first Sabres player to do so since Sam Reinhart (2017-18 to 2020-21). … Tuch played in his 500th NHL game and is the third Buffalo player in the past 10 years to score in the milestone game (also Dmitry Kulikov and Ryan O'Reilly). … Sabres forward Jiri Kulich had six shots on goal in 16:26 of ice time in his return after missing four games with a lower-body injury. … Kraken forward Kaapo Kakko’s five-game point streak ended (three goals, five assists).