The Rangers earned it — the game and the expected-goals battle both.
J. Daccord's exceptional performance—stopping 1.2 goals above expected—was the only reason Seattle stayed competitive in a game the Rangers dominated across nearly every metric. The Kraken managed just 2.08 expected goals to New York's 4.20, a 33–67 split that should have produced a decisive victory, not an overtime thriller.
The Rangers' control was comprehensive: 27 shots to 13, six high-danger chances to three, 67% of 5v5 expected goals. They suffocated Seattle at every level.
Yet the Kraken stole what they could. They scored twice from low-danger spots—chances a league-average goalie expects to stop—and capitalized on 2 of their 24 rush attempts. That efficiency kept them within striking distance.
New York slightly underperformed their own dominance, scoring 3 goals on 4.20 expected xG. I. Shesterkin was solid: 11 saves on 13 shots for a 0.846 save percentage. J. Daccord, meanwhile, played nearly flawlessly, standing on his head to keep his team alive.
The end came at 2:42 of overtime when W. Cuylle's snap shot from a sharp angle finished it.
Three Stars: A. Fox controlled play with 2 assists in 25:04; C. Stephenson was Seattle's engine with 1 goal and 1 assist in 24:10; W. Cuylle delivered the final blow with 1 goal and 1 assist in 16:25.