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Philipp Grubauer, Kraken shut out reeling Blackhawks

Apr 7, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Boris Katchouk (14) clears the puck against the Seattle Kraken during the first period at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Philipp Grubauer made 29 saves for his second shutout of the season and the 20th of his NHL career as the expansion Seattle Kraken defeated the host Chicago Blackhawks 2-0 Thursday night.

Alex Wennberg and Jordan Eberle scored for Seattle (23-42-6, 52 points), which split its two-game trip after a 4-1 loss the previous day in St. Louis.

Kevin Lankinen stopped 29 of 31 shots for the Blackhawks (24-36-11, 59 points), who suffered their sixth consecutive defeat and haven’t won on home ice since March 8, a span of five games (0-3-2).

It was scoreless after the first period despite Seattle outshooting the Blackhawks 17-3.

The Kraken opened the scoring 47 seconds into the second period. After a turnover in the neutral zone, Jordan Eberle sent a pass toward Wennberg that went off the stick of a Chicago defenseman and Ryan Donato skate. Wennberg picked up the puck in the middle of the ice at the Blackhawks’ blue line, skated around Jake McCabe and faked a backhander before pulling the puck back to his forehand and stuffing the puck past Lankinen at the left post.

It remained 1-0 through the end of the period, thanks to the Kraken’s penalty killers.

Donato was called for interference at 16:01 of the period on Chicago’s Taylor Raddysh. On the ensuing faceoff, defenseman Carson Soucy’s stick came up while battling Raddysh and cut him in the face, resulting in a double minor for high-sticking at 16:05.

Seattle killed off all 1:56 of the five-on-three opportunity and all but the final five seconds of Soucy’s penalty before the period ended.

Wennberg also made a poke check on Chicago’s Kirby Dach to prevent a short-handed breakaway early in the third.

Eberle clinched the victory, scoring on a wrist shot from the top of the left faceoff circle at 18:21 of the third.

–Field Level Media

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