Boston Bruins: Suffer First Regulation Loss At Home Against Seattle Kraken

Thursday night’s game between the Boston Bruins and Seattle Kraken at the TD Garden could have been a preview of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final. What might’ve sounded like a bold take back in October became a reality when Seattle handed the Bruins their first home loss of the season.

Martin Jones stopped all 27 shots he faced to lead the Kraken to a 3-0 victory over the Bruins. The former Boston Bruin has posted back-to-back shutouts. Seattle has won its last seven games and is third in the Pacific Division with 54 points.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 12: Martin Jones, #30 of the Seattle Kraken, tends to the net during the third period against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on January 12, 2023, in Boston, Massachusetts. The Kraken defeated the Bruins 3-0. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

They may have taken a year to wake up, but the Kraken is one of the top teams in the NHL. Seattle’s roster may not have any superstars on it (yet), but it does have a great blend of veteran and young players.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 12: Jaden Schwartz #17 of the Seattle Kraken celebrates with Adam Larsson #6 after scoring during the third period at TD Garden on January 12, 2023, in Boston, Massachusetts. The Kraken defeated the Bruins 3-0. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Littered with former Stanley Cup champions like Andre Burakovsky, Yanni Gourde, Jaden Schwartz, Vince Dunn, and Justin Schultz, the Kraken also have a couple of the more promising prospects in the game in Shane Wright and Matty Beniers.

MONTREAL, QUEBEC – JULY 07: Shane Wright is selected number four overall by the Seattle Kraken and shakes hands with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman attends the 2022 NHL Draft at the Bell Centre on July 07, 2022, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Beniers, a Hingham native, may not have recorded any points in his return to Massachusetts, but he did showcase why Seattle made him its first draft choice in franchise history. Beniers is leading all rookies in goals with 16 and points with 34.

VANCOUVER, CANADA – DECEMBER 22: Matty Beniers #10 of the Seattle Kraken during NHL action against the Vancouver Canucks on December 22, 2022, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)

The Calder Trophy favorite grew up modeling his game after Patrice Bergeron and gives the Kraken hopes of at least a decade of top two-way play. Linus Ullmark was one of the few bright spots for a Bruins team that struggled to score.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 12: Brandon Tanev, #13 of the Seattle Kraken, takes a shot against Linus Ullmark, #35 of the Boston Bruins, during the second period at TD Garden on January 12, 2023, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Ullmark stopped 28 of the 30 shots he faced and has now lost two games this season (not including a 3-2 loss in a shootout to the Los Angeles Kings). Even in defeat, Ullmark gives the B’s a chance to win every night.

Joona Koppanen made his NHL debut and was fine. The 24-year-old from Finland was minus one in under nine minutes on the ice. Koppanen did win five of the seven face-offs he took but failed to make much of an impact that guarantees him any long-term stint in Boston.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 12: Joona Koppanen #45 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Seattle Kraken in his first NHL game during the first period at TD Garden on January 12, 2023, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The Bruins loss to the Kraken could indicate that Boston’s depth is finally being challenged. Jake DeBrusk will be out for an extended period, and the team won’t be able to survive with Craig Smith playing under nine minutes on the top line.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 12: Craig Smith #12 of the Boston Bruins and Alex Wennberg #21 of the Seattle Kraken battle for control of the puck during the first period at TD Garden on January 12, 2023, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The Bruins are now 32-5-4 and lead the NHL with 68 points. Boston will be looking to return to the win column when it hosts the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday night at TD Garden. The Leafs are second in the division with 59 points.