The Seattle Kraken opened their fifth NHL season with a historic 3–1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks at Climate Pledge Arena, marking the franchise’s first-ever home-opening win. It was a night of firsts, as new head coach Lane Lambert made his debut behind the bench, bringing a fresh identity and a disciplined, defense-first philosophy to the team.
Seattle wasted no time getting on the board, with defenseman Vince Dunn scoring the Kraken’s first goal of the season off assists from Adam Larsson and Jaden Schwartz. Anaheim answered back midway through the first period with a goal from Beckett Sennecke, and despite being outshot 17–5 in the opening frame, the Kraken held firm.
The turning point came in the second period when Brandon Montour, making his return to the lineup, stripped a Ducks skater and set up Mason Marchment for a go-ahead wrist shot. Montour’s impact was felt throughout the night, both defensively and in transition, as he helped stabilize Seattle’s blue line and drive offensive opportunities.
“It shows what kind of player he is—he’s a top-end NHL defenseman,” said coach Lambert of Brandon Montour’s return and impact. “He made an outstanding play and did a lot of good things tonight. He drives us up the ice and drives the offense. He was desperately needed and did a great job.”
Jared McCann added insurance in the third period, finishing a slick sequence with Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle to give Seattle a 3–1 lead. The Kraken were outshot 36–31 overall but made up for it with physicality, outhitting Anaheim 29–24 and showing a commitment to net presence that frustrated the Ducks’ attack.
“Early on, we were having trouble making plays coming out of our zone,” Coach Lambert said, acknowledging the team’s slow start, then praised their adjustments. “But I thought we managed that better as the game went on and became a lot more aggressive in the back half.”
Lambert also made strategic lineup decisions late in the game, shortening the bench to secure favorable matchups. Yanni Newman was held out in the closing minutes, a move Lambert framed as part of the young forward’s development. Ryan Winterton, meanwhile, earned praise for his off-puck play and energy, making a strong case to stay in the lineup.
The Kraken’s power play showed flashes of promise, though Lambert noted the need for more decisive shooting. Faceoffs and zone exit remain areas of focus heading into the next stretch of practices.
“It’s super personal—inside the locker room stuff,” Coach Lambert said of the player-of-the-game helmet tradition, “It’s a Formula 1 helmet from one of our owners, inspired by the movie. It’s pretty awesome and special when players get to pass it to each other.”
With a new coach, a new identity, and a long-awaited home opening win, the (1-0-0) Kraken have set the tone for what could be a defining season in franchise history. On Saturday, October 11, they will face off against the (1-0-1) Las Vegas Golden Knights.
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