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Finetales · 02-08-2020, 10:32 PM

Halifax Raiders vs. Carolina Kraken Kraken

Final Score: 0 - 4
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Tall Grass Media SMJHL Season Coverage Series presents:

Kraken Awakened, Blanks Raiders
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Preview

Both the Carolina Kraken and the Halifax Raiders came into this matchup eager for a rebound win, both having suffered losses (to Vancouver and Detroit, respectively) in their previous games. The Kraken were the favorites to win as they came in tied for 1st in the SMJHL, with the Raiders sitting closer to the bottom of the pack. Fortunately, neither team was plagued with injuries going in.

First Period
Shots: 10 (HFX) - 7 (CAR)
Goals: 0 (HFX) - 2 (CAR)

The game began with a penalty just 17 seconds in on Halifax top-line d-man Valantin Kalashnikov for hooking. Neither this power play nor the second that began almost immediately after the first ended (with Indigo Trevino putting Halifax a man down again with another hooking penalty) resulted in a goal for Carolina. The game remained scoreless for over 9 minutes before Buster Cherry rifled a shot past Olli Saarinen Jr. to put the Kraken up 1-0. Not to be outdone by Carolina's two power plays, Halifax drew three penalties in a row in the second half of the period, but were unable to capitalize on these chances. The score remained unchanged until Michael Lee, who assisted Cherry's goal, scored another goal for Carolina with less than a minute left in the period. Although Carolina ended the period up 2-0, the period was full of back-and-forth hockey, with Halifax taking three more shots on goal than Carolina only to be denied all of them by Mike Hroch.

Second Period
Shots: 2 (HFX) - 7 (CAR)
Goals: 0 (HFX) - 1 (CAR)

The second period was not kind to the trailing Raiders, who only getting two shots on goal off on the Kraken team that was firing on all cylinders by this point. Carolina matched their first period shot output, and took advantage of their single power play to score their third goal of the game, courtesy of Joseph Weston in the waning seconds of the PP. Cherry took an interference penalty for Carolina eight seconds after Weston's goal, but his team's penalty kill was able to fend off Halifax's PP1 unit. The rest of the period had no more penalties but was dominated by Carolina despite the lack of additional goals, and the period ended 3-0 Carolina.

Third Period
Shots: 11 (HFX) - 8 (CAR)
Goals: 0 (HFX) - 1 (CAR)

Halifax made some productive changes in their locker room between periods as they attacked Carolina's netminder with 11 shots in the third period (up three from Carolina's eight). However, their frustrated play cost them another goal at the beginning of the period, with Matthew Brundt taking a cross-checking penalty just 16 seconds into the period that turned into a power play goal for Carolina (scored by Stirling MacTavish). Although Carolina had one more power play and Halifax two later in the period, no more goals were scored despite constant pressure from the Raiders and the game ended 4-0 Carolina.

Summary
Final Score: 0 (HFX) - 4 (CAR)
Three Stars: Mike Hroch (1 - CAR), Michael Lee (2 - CAR), Stirling MacTavish (3 - CAR)

Carolina's starting goaltender delivered an impressive shutout performance in this game, rightfully earning him the first star of the game. The Kraken's 1-2 punch of lights-out goaltending and a solid blue line squad shutting down chances was integral to their win. The second and third stars could have gone any three ways between Michael Lee, Stirling MacTavish, and Joseph Weston, all three of which had one goal and one assist. Lee's +2 +/- stat earned him the second star, and MacTavish's three hits, two shots, and one shot blocked edged him out for the third star over Weston. Halifax's best player was either Izzy Dudemeister with 2 hits and 3 shots blocked, or Marty Sertich with 3 shots and 3 hits. The Raiders put in a good effort in the first and third periods, but it wasn't enough against a buzzing Carolina team and their brick wall in net. If Carolina can continue putting up consistent shot numbers and creating chances to compliment their solid back end, they should continue to be a threat.

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