Kraken score 3 third-period goals in 5-2 win over Utah

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Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer blocks a shot against the Utah Hockey Club during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

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Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour moves the puck against Utah Hockey Club center Clayton Keller, back, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

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Utah Hockey Club center Logan Cooley (92) celebrates his goal against the Seattle Kraken with teammates, including defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98)ref10 and right wing Dylan Guenther (11) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

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Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers is hooked by Utah Hockey Club center Barrett Hayton, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

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Seattle Kraken right wing Kaapo Kakko (84) passes the puck away from Utah Hockey Club defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

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Seattle Kraken left wing Tye Kartye watches his shot deflect against Utah Hockey Club goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

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Utah Hockey Club center Kevin Stenlund (82) and Seattle Kraken left wing Jared McCann (19) vie for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

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Seattle Kraken center Yanni Gourde (37) celebrates his goal against the Utah Hockey Club with defenseman Ryker Evans (41) and center Jaden Schwartz, back, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

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Utah Hockey Club right wing Dylan Guenther (11) reacts as a goal by center Logan Cooley (not pictured) goes into the net past Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

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Utah Hockey Club goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) deflects a shot from Seattle Kraken center Jaden Schwartz, left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

By SHANE LANTZ

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Kraken scored three goals in the third period to finish off a 5-2 win over the Utah Hockey Club on Monday.

Jaden Schwartz broke a 2-2 tie with 12:38 remaining, Matty Beniers made it a 4-2 game a few minutes later with his sixth goal of the season, and Jared McCann finished it off with an empty-net goal with 1:49 left in a fight-filled first meeting between Seattle and Utah.

Logan Cooley gave Utah a 1-0 lead on a first period power-play goal, but Yanni Gourde tied it for Seattle with 1:54 remaining, and Andre Burakovsky tipped one in 51 seconds later to give the Kraken the lead.

Utah’s Alexander Kerfoot snuck one past Kraken goaltender Phillip Grubauer with 59 seconds left in the second period to tie the game at two apiece.

Grubauer finished with 28 saves, while Utah’s Karel Vejmelka had 28.

Recent Kraken acquisition Kaapo Kakko had two assists in his first home game.

Takeaways

Utah: Utah’s offense has struggled lately, scoring two goals or fewer in each of its past three games. Utah has won just two games this season where it scored fewer than three goals.

Kraken: Seattle seems to have found its late-game magic. It was the second consecutive game Seattle scored three goals in the third period.

Key moment

Schwartz’s goal made up for one he had taken away back in the first period because the Kraken was offside. That goal would have tied it at 1-all. His makeup goal in the third period proved to be more valuable.

Key stat

3 — Schwartz had a three-point night, scoring his 12th goal of the season while providing assists on Gourde’s and Burakovsky’s goals. It was his second 3-point game of the season.

Up next

Utah will play at Edmonton on Tuesday, while the Kraken will host Vancouver on Thursday night. ___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl