Kraken Beat Red Wings 4-3 After Blowing Three-Goal Lead

The Seattle Kraken survived a dramatic third-period collapse to defeat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 in a shootout on Tuesday, October 20, earning a crucial victory after surrendering a three-goal lead in the final period. Frederick Gaudreau and Bobby McMann scored in the shootout, while goaltender Philipp Grubauer delivered a decisive save against Dylan Larkin to secure Seattle’s win.

Seattle appeared firmly in control after building a 3-0 advantage through the first two periods. However, Detroit mounted an impressive comeback in the third, scoring three unanswered goals to force overtime. Alex DeBrincat delivered the equalizer with just 16.9 seconds remaining in regulation, reaching a significant personal milestone in the process.

Despite losing its commanding lead, Seattle recovered in the shootout to end a two-game losing streak. The Kraken improved to 4-1-1 over their previous six games, demonstrating their ability to respond under pressure even after allowing the Red Wings back into the contest.

Detroit, meanwhile, extended its run of consecutive games earning at least one point to five, although the shootout defeat meant the Red Wings had to settle for a single point rather than completing their comeback with a victory.

Seattle Kraken Hold Their Nerve to Secure Shootout Victory

The deciding moments came after neither team could find a winner during overtime. Seattle and Detroit entered the shootout following a frantic final period in which the Red Wings erased the deficit and the Kraken struggled to generate offensive opportunities.

Gaudreau and McMann converted their attempts for Seattle, giving the home side the advantage it needed. Grubauer then made his third save on Detroit’s four shootout attempts, stopping Larkin in the final round to seal the 4-3 victory.

Grubauer’s performance was particularly important after Seattle surrendered its three-goal lead. The goaltender finished with 22 saves and earned his third victory in his previous four starts, improving his record during that stretch to 3-0-1.

Although the Kraken had allowed Detroit to dictate much of the third period, their goaltender delivered when the game reached its most decisive stage. His final-round stop prevented the Red Wings from extending the shootout and gave Seattle an opportunity to celebrate a hard-fought win.

Daniil Tarasov also played an important role for Detroit, stopping 24 shots during regulation and overtime. He turned aside two of Seattle’s four shootout attempts, but the Kraken ultimately converted enough chances to claim the extra point.

Alex DeBrincat Scores Career Goal No. 300 in Dramatic Comeback

Alex DeBrincat produced one of the game’s defining moments by scoring his 300th career NHL goal with just 16.9 seconds remaining in regulation. His late equalizer completed Detroit’s comeback from a three-goal deficit and forced overtime.

The milestone goal also continued DeBrincat’s recent habit of delivering in late-game situations. On Saturday, he had scored with 1:33 remaining in regulation to force overtime during Detroit’s 4-3 shootout victory over the San Jose Sharks.

DeBrincat again demonstrated his importance to the Red Wings’ offence, combining a significant individual achievement with a goal that rescued a point for his team. His contribution helped Detroit avoid a regulation defeat despite trailing by three goals entering the final period.

The forward finished with two points, underlining his influence during the comeback. His ability to find the net under pressure gave the Red Wings a chance to complete a remarkable turnaround, although Seattle ultimately prevailed in the shootout.

Lucas Raymond also played a major role in Detroit’s recovery, scoring his first goal of the season and finishing with two points. Viktor Arvidsson added a regulation goal and converted in the shootout, while Larkin contributed two assists.

Red Wings Overcome Three-Goal Deficit in the Third Period

Detroit entered the third period trailing 3-0, leaving the visitors with a difficult task if they wanted to earn points from their opening game of a four-game road trip. The Red Wings responded with a strong offensive push, outshooting Seattle 13-4 in the final 20 minutes.

The Kraken, who had controlled the opening 40 minutes, struggled to maintain possession and generate shots as Detroit increased the pressure. Seattle did not register a shot during the final 14 and a half minutes of regulation, a statistic that illustrated how dramatically the momentum had shifted.

Arvidsson initiated the comeback with his fourth goal of the season, scoring with 13:35 remaining. It was his first even-strength goal of the campaign, giving Detroit a much-needed breakthrough after Seattle had kept the visitors off the scoreboard for two periods.

The goal changed the atmosphere of the contest. Detroit had spent much of the game chasing Seattle’s pace, but Arvidsson’s finish provided a platform for a late rally and increased pressure on the Kraken’s defensive structure.

Arvidsson then drew an interference penalty against Seattle’s Ryker Evans with 12:59 remaining. Detroit took advantage of the resulting opportunity, with Raymond scoring just 23 seconds later to cut the deficit to 3-2.

The quick succession of goals transformed what had looked like a comfortable Seattle victory into a tense finish. Detroit continued to push forward, while the Kraken struggled to regain the control they had established during the first two periods.

Seattle still held a one-goal advantage heading into the final minutes, but Detroit’s decision to pull Tarasov for an extra attacker increased the pressure. The Red Wings eventually found their equalizer through DeBrincat, completing the comeback with just 16.9 seconds left.

Kraken Dominate the First Two Periods

While Detroit controlled much of the third period, Seattle had been the superior team through the opening 40 minutes. The Kraken established their lead with three goals, capitalising on offensive opportunities and taking advantage of the Red Wings’ mistakes.

Mackie Samoskevich opened the scoring in the first period, finishing a backhand feed from Chandler Stephenson with 13:15 remaining. The goal gave Seattle an early advantage and helped the home side establish control of the contest.

Detroit struggled with discipline early in the second period, taking penalties for too many men on the ice and delay of game within the first 97 seconds. The Kraken earned a five-on-three power play but could not convert the two-player advantage into a goal.

Seattle nevertheless extended its lead when Evans found the net with 16:38 remaining in the middle period. A loose puck drifted into the high slot, and Evans was well positioned to take advantage, giving the Kraken a 2-0 cushion.

The goal rewarded Seattle’s continued pressure and left Detroit facing an increasingly difficult challenge. The Red Wings had opportunities to reduce the deficit, but the Kraken maintained their defensive structure and prevented the visitors from scoring before the second intermission.

Brandon Montour added Seattle’s third goal with 3:59 remaining in the second period. The defenceman scored on a one-timer after Catton won a faceoff, giving the Kraken a seemingly commanding 3-0 lead heading into the final period.

Montour’s goal was his first of the season and capped an impressive stretch for Seattle. With Samoskevich and Evans also scoring, the Kraken appeared to have done enough to secure a regulation victory before Detroit’s late surge changed the course of the game.

Philipp Grubauer Provides a Crucial Safety Net

Grubauer’s contribution extended beyond his 22 saves in regulation and overtime. After Seattle’s defence struggled to contain Detroit’s attack in the third period, the goaltender remained composed and helped the Kraken reach the shootout.

The Red Wings’ 13-4 advantage in shots during the final period reflected their growing offensive pressure. Seattle’s inability to register a shot over the final 14 and a half minutes of regulation left its defence under sustained pressure and limited opportunities to slow Detroit’s momentum.

Grubauer was unable to prevent the Red Wings from scoring three times, but he delivered the decisive performance when the game entered the shootout. Stopping Larkin in the final round ensured that Seattle’s earlier work was not wasted.

His third win in four starts also provides a positive sign for a Kraken team looking to establish consistency. Although the collapse highlighted areas that need improvement, the victory demonstrated that Seattle can still find ways to win when games become unpredictable.

Detroit Extends Its Points Streak Despite the Defeat

The shootout loss was disappointing for Detroit, particularly after the team recovered from a three-goal deficit. However, earning a point extended the Red Wings’ streak of games with at least one point to five, during which they have recorded two wins and three overtime or shootout losses.

The comeback showed the team’s ability to respond after a difficult first two periods. Rather than allowing Seattle’s advantage to dictate the outcome, Detroit increased its shot volume, generated opportunities around the net and capitalised on a power-play chance.

Raymond’s first goal of the season and DeBrincat’s milestone strike were especially important contributions. Arvidsson’s goal also helped spark the comeback, while Larkin’s two assists supported Detroit’s offensive push.

Nevertheless, the game exposed the importance of starting strongly. The Red Wings had to spend the third period chasing a substantial deficit, and although they managed to force overtime, their early struggles ultimately left them needing a shootout to secure a win.

The contest marked the beginning of a four-game road trip for Detroit. The team can take encouragement from its resilience, but maintaining that level of urgency throughout an entire game will be important as the trip continues.

What the Result Means for the Seattle Kraken

For Seattle, the victory provides a valuable response after two consecutive games without a win. The Kraken improved to 4-1-1 in their past six games, suggesting that they have generally been competitive despite the recent setbacks.

However, surrendering a three-goal lead will remain a concern. Seattle controlled the game for two periods but struggled to handle Detroit’s pressure after the intermission. The failure to register a shot during the final 14 and a half minutes of regulation also highlights the need to manage the puck more effectively when protecting a lead.

In close NHL games, defensive discipline and offensive possession often become equally important in the closing minutes. Teams that retreat too far into their defensive zone can invite sustained pressure, increasing the likelihood of penalties, rebounds and late goals.

The Kraken ultimately avoided the worst-case scenario by winning the shootout, but the game offered a reminder that a substantial lead does not guarantee victory. Their ability to recover mentally after conceding the equalizer was encouraging, particularly with Grubauer making the decisive stop.

Conclusion

The Seattle Kraken defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 in a shootout after allowing a three-goal lead to disappear in a dramatic third period. Samoskevich, Evans and Montour scored in regulation for Seattle, while Gaudreau and McMann converted in the shootout to secure the victory.

Detroit’s comeback was led by Arvidsson and Raymond before DeBrincat scored his 300th career NHL goal with 16.9 seconds remaining to force overtime. The Red Wings outshot Seattle 13-4 in the final period, but Grubauer’s decisive shootout save against Larkin ensured the Kraken came away with the win.

The result ended Seattle’s two-game losing streak and extended Detroit’s points streak to five games. While the Kraken will welcome the victory, their third-period collapse serves as a warning about the importance of maintaining defensive pressure and offensive possession until the final buzzer.