The Kraken U13 pulled off a gritty 4-2 victory over the DIAMONDBACKS in a game defined by a lopsided shot count and resilient goaltending. The DIAMONDBACKS came out firing in the first period, unleashing a staggering 25 shots on net, but Kraken goalie Hargurkirat Padda stood tall, turning every single one away to keep his team in the fight. The Kraken, despite being heavily outshot, struck first on the power play when Zayd Bakali Tahiri found the back of the net just 52 seconds into the game. The DIAMONDBACKS finally solved Padda late in the period, as James Degaust scored with assists from Kephas Hartrick and Adrian Plaisier to knot the game at 1-1 heading into the intermission.
The middle frame was a penalty-filled affair that saw the DIAMONDBACKS take three consecutive minors, but the Kraken were unable to capitalize on the extended power-play time. The story remained the same: the DIAMONDBACKS controlled the play and generated chances, but Padda was an impenetrable wall. The game remained deadlocked until a wild third period erupted with four goals in just over two minutes. The DIAMONDBACKS finally took their first lead when Joseph Craft scored, assisted by William Degaust, making it 2-1. The Kraken responded with a furious rally. Romi Aulakh tied the game just 95 seconds later, set up by Markus Bosma. Then, only 48 seconds after that, Yousef Imtiaz gave the Kraken the lead for good with a helper from Connor Lyons.
The DIAMONDBACKS' frustration mounted in the final minutes, taking two more penalties, including an unsportsmanlike conduct call. With their goalie pulled for an extra attacker, the Kraken sealed the deal as Nicholas Desjarlais buried an empty-netter to secure the 4-2 final. Despite being outshot 25-15, the Kraken's opportunistic offense and the spectacular 25-save shutout performance from Hargurkirat Padda were the defining factors in this hard-fought win.
Raptors
