Vince Dunn scored once in a three-point performance and Jared McCann produced three assists as the visiting Seattle Kraken rolled over the Calgary Flames with a 6-1 victory in the season opener for both clubs on Thursday.
Kaapo Kakko and Matty Beniers both scored once and added an assist, while Jordan Eberle, Freddy Gaudreau and Chandler Stephenson also tallied for the Kraken, who rode a three-goal first period to the win.
Seattle goaltender Joey Daccord made 24 saves and was credited with an assist.
Ryan Strome scored for the Flames, while goalie Dustin Wolf stopped 26 shots in the expected final season opener at the Saddledome. It was the Flames’ worst-ever defeat in a home opener.
The clubs will meet again on Sunday in Seattle, after both play other opponents on Saturday.
Eberle opened the scoring on a power play, the first of two goals 32 seconds apart just before the midway point of the opening period. He set up shop at the front of the net and buried the loose puck on a rebound chance at 9:10.
Dunn doubled the lead right after. The puck came to him at the blue line, and his blast from the point rang off the post and into the net. It was the third consecutive year Dunn scored in the season opener.
Gaudreau wrapped up a perfect opening frame for the Kraken by making it a 3-0 game when he buried Kakko’s cross-ice feed off the rush 30 seconds before the first intermission.
Stephenson extended Seattle’s lead at 3:13 of the third period when he slid home a chance on a partial breakaway. Beniers made it a five-goal edge 51 seconds later with a one-timer from the left circle.
Strome finally gave the hosts and their faithful something to celebrate when he buried a shot from the left circle with 3:25 remaining in regulation.
However, Kakko rounded out the scoring 26 seconds later by chipping home a rebound chance.
