Nikke Kokko Stops 26 Shots in First NHL Start, Kraken Roll Past Calgary 4-1

Here's the thing about being a backup goalie in the NHL: you get your shot, and you have to be ready. Nikke Kokko was ready. In his first NHL start, the young goaltender turned away 26 shots as the Seattle Kraken absolutely took care of business against the Calgary Flames on Saturday night at Climate Pledge Arena, winning 4-1 in front of 17,151 fans.

Matty Beniers added his 20th goal of the season to cap off the dominant performance. This was the Kraken's second straight win, but here's the brutal reality: it came after learning before puck drop that the LA Kings beat Edmonton 1-0, which officially eliminated Seattle from playoff contention. That's hockey in April. You can play perfect, but the calendar has the final say.

Kokko Gets His Moment

Kokko made his NHL debut back on February 25 against St. Louis, becoming the youngest goalie to do so at that time. But starting a game is different. You're the guy, not the kid getting a cameo. He had to step in because Joey Daccord and backup Philipp Grubauer are both dealing with lower-body injuries, and Matt Murray is away from the team handling personal matters. When opportunity knocks, some goalies answer with 26 saves and a win. That's the kind of night Kokko had.

Three Goals in Two Minutes, Then Another

Calgary struck first when Hunter Brzustweicz scored his second of the season with 18:49 left in the second period. But Seattle didn't panic. Freddy Gaudreau tied it up just 54 seconds later with his sixth of the season, and suddenly the Kraken were rolling. Chandler Stephenson gave Seattle the lead with 6:44 remaining in the second, then Beniers put the game on ice with five seconds to go before the intermission. Jordan Eberle added an empty-netter at 18:31 of the third to make it 4-1 final.

Kaapo Kakko notched his 200th career point with an assist on Gaudreau's goal. It was a complete team effort, especially on a night when the goal was just to keep playing hard and give Kokko his moment.

The Kraken host Los Angeles on Monday night. Calgary turns around and hosts Utah on Sunday.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.