3–5
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Gaudreau Seals It Into the Empty Net as Kraken Hold Off Utah
Seattle's unassisted clincher in the final minute ended a wild third period in a 5-3 win over the Mammoth.
Written during the game · 12:56 AM ET. Final was UTA 3, SEA 5.
Frederick Gaudreau only took one shot for the Kraken on Utah's goalie-pulled finish, and it was the one that put the game away. His night was worth more than that single shot suggests.
Gaudreau scored unassisted at 19:00 of the third, into an empty net with Utah playing six skaters, to make it SEA 5, UTA 3. It was his only shot on goal in 15:25 of ice time.
The box score shows one shot and one goal. The chances behind them were worth far more. By expected goals, which is how many goals a player's chances should produce, Gaudreau's night added up to 0.98, close to a full goal. The empty-net goal itself was worth 0.49.
That is why this did not read as a lucky bounce. The Kraken had just survived a third period in which Utah tied it, and Gaudreau made sure the late lead held. Seattle moves to 6-3-1 on the season.