Seattle Kraken Secures 2-1 Victory Over Florida Panthers with McCann's Go-Ahead Goal

The Seattle Kraken clinched a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Florida Panthers, with Jared McCann's go-ahead goal early in the third period proving to be the game-changer on Saturday night.

Adding to the excitement, Kaappo Kakko also contributed a goal, while Joey Daccord's stellar performance with 26 saves solidified the Kraken's win, breaking a three-game losing streak and splitting the two-game season series against the Atlantic Division-leading Panthers.

Despite a valiant effort from the Panthers, Eetu Luostarinen managed to score for Florida, albeit playing without their star forward Matthew Tkachuk, who was sidelined due to a lower-body injury sustained during the 4 Nations Face-Off while representing the United States.

The pivotal moment came when the game was deadlocked at 1-1, as Shane Wright skillfully maneuvered into Florida's zone and set up a perfect pass to Adam Larsson, who then found McCann on the left wing. McCann's precise shot at 7:03 into the third period eluded Sergei Bobrovsky, securing the lead for the Kraken.

The Kraken's dominance was evident early on with Kakko's power-play goal just 6:32 into the first period. Kakko, receiving a pass from Matty Beniers, swiftly moved towards the crease and beat Bobrovsky on the short side, marking his 10th goal of the season.

Florida fought back, with Luostarinen netting a goal assisted by Anton Lundell midway through the second period, leveling the score at 1-1.

Noteworthy moments included the return of forward Jordan Eberle for the Kraken after missing 39 games due to a pelvic injury sustained in a game against Chicago on Nov. 14. Eberle's comeback saw him log 14:03 of ice time across 16 shifts, boosting the Kraken's lineup.

On the Panthers' side, the defeat halted a five-game winning streak at home. Florida, who had previously won nine of their last 12 games, faced a setback post the 4 Nations Face-Off.