CALGARY — Seattle gave the Saddledome’s final opening-night crowd a rough welcome Thursday, rolling past the Calgary Flames 6-1 behind a three-point night from Vince Dunn.
The Kraken struck twice in 32 seconds during the first period, built a three-goal cushion before intermission and then buried Calgary with another rapid pair early in the third. It was the first game of the season for both clubs and the last home opener the Flames will play in the Saddledome before moving to Scotia Place next season.
Dunn finished with a goal and two assists, while Jared McCann supplied three helpers. Matty Beniers and Kaapo Kakko each posted a goal and an assist. Jordan Eberle, Frederick Gaudreau and Chandler Stephenson also scored for Seattle, and Joey Daccord turned aside 24 shots.
Calgary received its lone goal from Ryan Strome. Dustin Wolf made 26 saves in a difficult opening assignment.
Seattle takes over in the first
The Kraken power play opened the scoring at 9:10 of the first. McCann fired from high in the right circle, with the puck catching Eberle near the crease before falling at his feet. Eberle quickly knocked it home for a 1-0 lead.
Seattle did not let Calgary settle. Dunn made it 2-0 at 9:42, sending a point blast through bodies and inside Wolf’s right post.
Gaudreau added another late in the period, finishing Kakko’s pass across the zone at 19:30. His quick release beat Wolf high on the glove side and sent Seattle to the room ahead 3-0.
Third-period push ends the night
The Flames could not generate the response they needed after the break. Stephenson extended the lead at 3:13 of the third period, working a backhand through Wolf’s pads. Just 51 seconds later, McCann dropped the puck for Beniers, whose slap shot made it 5-0.
Strome finally put Calgary on the board at 16:35, beating Daccord with a wrist shot from the top of the left circle. The goal did little to change the feel of the night, and Seattle answered 26 seconds later when Kakko cleaned up a rebound for the 6-1 final.
For the Kraken, it was a complete opening-night statement: production from the blue line, scoring spread through the lineup and steady work from Daccord at the other end. Calgary begins its final Saddledome season looking for a much sharper next outing.
