Markstrom shines as Kraken lose 3-2 to Devils

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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 06: Jacob Markstrom #25 of the New Jersey Devils makes a diving save against Eeli Tolvanen #20 of the Seattle Kraken during the third period at Climate Pledge Arena on January 06, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images)

SEATTLE - New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom delivered at least three all-world saves on chances for the Kraken in a 3-2 Seattle loss on Monday night.

Markstrom made 22 saves on 24 shots overall for New Jersey, but at least three of his stops on Kraken shot attempts could legitimately be in a reel of best saves of the season at the end of the year in the NHL.

"I think that obviously their goalie made some big saves for them tonight. And you know, it was one that we lost, but did create a lot," forward Jared McCann said.

Ondřej Palát scored less than a minute after Seattle found the tying goal on the power play early in the third period for the decisive goal in the game for the Devils. Markstrom then made two of his three superstar saves to keep the Kraken from tying the game.

A glove save robbed Eeli Tolvanen of a goal as his chance from the back door of the net was stolen away by Markstrom. Then with six minutes left to play, Matty Beniers tipped a puck in front of the net and shoveled his own rebound over Markstrom toward the net. But while laid out on his back, Markstrom managed to swat the floating puck away from the net with the blade of his stick to rob Seattle once again.

"We had three or four, you know, looked like back in the net chances to get us back even," head coach Dan Bylsma said. "It's a hard-fought game and you got to take some positives of how we played this one."

As has often been the case lately, the Kraken had to play from behind.

Chandler Stephenson gave the puck away alongside the boards with a chance to clear the puck out of the defensive zone and it immediately ended up in the Kraken net. Dawson Mercer cleaned up a rebound of a Nico Hischier shot from the slot for an easy goal and a 1-0 Devils lead.

It was just a lazy giveaway from Stephenson that allowed Timo Meier to take the puck and create the chance for Hischier.

The Kraken then controlled play for the rest of the period and found the tying goal before intermission. Adam Larsson scored his second goal of the season with a shot from distance that Markstrom never saw through a screen by McCann that went in off the right post.

"Just try to take his eyesight away," McCann said. "And he's obviously a great goalie so you got to get bodies in front of him, and can't let him see the puck. He's obviously a big dude, too. So, you know, just trying to do my best there."

Markstrom then began his showcase performance for New Jersey. He made a stunning glove save to rob Oliver Bjorkstrand on a great rush chance to preserve the tie.

André Burakovsky then had a breakaway chance that Markstrom also managed to deny.

A bit of a soft goal for the Devils inside the final minute of the second period restored New Jersey's lead. Paul Cotter whiffed on a shot attempt as he drove in on Philipp Grubauer after collecting a rebound off the end boards. However, Grubauer tried to deliver a poke check to the puck as Cotter whiffed, and the puck slipped right through Grubauer's legs for a 2-1 lead.

Jonas Siegthethaler cross-checked Jaden Schwartz in the closing seconds of the period that allowed the Kraken to open the third period with a power play.

Shane Wright scored off a great pass from Kaapo Kakko from behind the goal line for a power play goal and his eighth of the season to tie the game again at 2-2.

"I'm just trying to find some open areas and I've been getting a lot of good plays from other guy," said Wright, who has four of his eight goals on the power play. "So, yeah, just trying to find some soft spot. Obviously, really good play from from Kaapo there to find me in the middle. And, yeah, think just trying to find open space and be a shooter as well. That's what Jess and everyone's kind of preaching, just be a shooter. Pucks on net and good things are gonna happen."

However, the tie lasted less than a minute. before Palát's game-winning goal. Palát found space in front of the net and his chipped shot off a pass from Jack Hughes beat Grubauer for a 3-2 Devils lead.

Grubauer made 26 saves on 29 shots for the Kraken in his fifth straight start in goal with Joey Daccord sidelined with an injury.