Kraken outscore Sabres, 7-4

In Buffalo, the scattered fan base in the arena was treated to a match between two defenses sitting around watching the forwards for the opposition skate freely and take multiple whacks at errant pucks.

For Sabres fans it was especially galling as the Seattle Kraken skated off with a 7-4 decision.

A three-goal opening stanza set the stage for the Kraken to be content to simply outscore the Sabres over the final 40 minutes.

Seattle’s Jared McCann and Mason Appleton each hit for a pair of goals in the win.

“The more you win, the more you trust the system,” Appleton said. “Whether that is how your line plays, how the team plays, whatever that is, a win gives you belief in many different ways. I thought we did a good job for most of tonight’s game. We hit a couple walls here and there. But at the end of the night, we got the points. And that’s what matters in this league.”

Chris Driedger made 32 saves in the Kraken win.

Seattle improved to 8-13-1; they have won four of their last five games.

Jeff Skinner struck twice for Buffalo.

“There were some good things in the game, but we didn’t have a sense of urgency at the start with respect to details,” Buffalo head coach Don Granato said. “That was obvious. We allowed too much, too easy, and then fought obviously the rest of the way as a result.”

Carson Soucy opened the scoring in the first period with a shorthanded goal for Seattle, the first in franchise history

Brandon Tanev then added a second shortie for Seattle for a 2-0 lead.

“That’s just good, hard work,” Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol said. “Good instincts on the first one, ‘Gourdie’ gets up ice and creates a turnover. He could kind of sense that, and he got up and got on top of it, and the second one is just great individual effort.”

Brett Murray had a goal and two points for the Sabres, it was his first NHL goal.

“It was a pretty special feeling,” Murray said. “It’s something that you’ve worked your whole life for. For it to finally happen is amazing. Even more amazing that I was able to have my entire family in the stands there. It makes it even more special.”

The Sabres dropped to 8-11-3.

“Last year was a challenging year, obviously not how I would have liked to contribute to the team,” Skinner said. “You like to contribute to the team so they win. So, personally, it’s nice to get going. Hopefully we can keep it [going]. I think as a line (with Tage Thompson and Victor Olofsson) we’re playing pretty well. … But yeah, part of my job is to generate offense and to capitalize on opportunities, and I’m going to try and keep doing that.”

Brett Murray and Dylan Cozens had single markers for the Sabres.

Jaden Schwartz also scored for the Kraken.

Appleton’s second goal of the game was an empty-net strike for the 7-4 final.