The Kraken were 0-3 at Madison Square Garden in the franchise's three-year history, but turned the game around in the second period Sunday afternoon.
Seattle scored four times on 11 total shots in 20 minutes before the Kraken ultimately won 7-5.
It all looked like it would end behind the Rangers' goal, but numerous turnovers and breakdowns made things even worse and carried over into the third period.
“The goal was a chance, that's all,” head coach Peter Laviolette said. “We had a piece in place, but when we got to the point where we had to defend it, it came loose. That's definitely not what you're looking for. You're 3- 1, and as I said earlier, the chance was the goal. We could have been tighter and done better in that situation.”
The Kraken swarmed around the Rangers' net on Brandon Tanev's 3-2 score at the 14:06 mark of the center frame.
Less than a minute and a half later, Eeli Tolvanen's goal exposed the middle of the Rangers zone.
There was nothing that could be done about Oliver Bjorkstand's second goal of the game, Brandon Montour's shot that deflected wide of the goal, giving the Kraken their first lead of the night at the end of the second goal.
But it spilled over into the final frame, when Vince Dunn's long-range one-time shot evaded Rangers goalkeeper Jonathan Quick and Shane Wright's 6-3 score saw the Kraken slip in behind the Rangers D.
“Scoreboards and goals,” Laviolette said of the transfer. “Looking back, every chance we had was a goal. So at those points in the game we had to defend better than ever. The pieces were in place, but we were a little too loose. And that laxity hurt us.”
Igor Shesterkin's wife gave birth to their second child on Sunday, so the Rangers' star netminder has already had an eventful week since signing the goaltender to an NHL-record contract against the Kraken. I didn't dress.
“He's proven to be one of the top goaltenders,” Laviolette said. “It's really reassuring to be able to give such an important piece to our team and have that piece for eight years. When you think about sports in general, there are really important positions, and when it comes to hockey, goaltending is one of them. One. We're lucky to have a better one.”
As a result, the Rangers recalled Dylan Garland from AHL Hartford as Quick's backup.
Connor McKee was also named as an additional defenseman after Matthew Robertson returned to the Wolfpack on Saturday.
