Early third-period goals help Kraken extend dominance over Ducks

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Andre Burakovsky and Brandon Montour scored 24 seconds apart early in the third period and the Seattle Kraken extended their winning streak over the Anaheim Ducks to eight games with a 3-2 victory Monday night.

Shane Wright also scored, while Joey Daccord made 21 saves as the Kraken improved to 6-2-0 since Nov. 8.

Frank Vatrano and Trevor Zegras scored for the Ducks, who saw their season-best four-game points streak come to an end. Lukas Dostal made 24 saves for Anaheim.

Burakovsky scored his first of the season on a tip-in past Dostal at 46 seconds of the third period to tie the score 2-2. Montour quickly put Seattle on top with a blast through traffic from the top of the right circle, his seventh.

Kraken: Wright was a healthy scratch in each of the previous three games before the fourth-overall selection in the 2022 draft ended a personal 13-game points drought in the first period.

Ducks: It was much-needed production from a pair of Anaheim forwards. Zegras’ goal was just his second in his past 19 games, while Vatrano hardly was in the mood to celebrate his tip-in goal, his second in 11 games.

Anaheim’s Leo Carlsson departed with 4:37 remaining in the second period after taking a hit from Tye Kartye and did not return. Carlsson crashed into his own goal with his left hip, while hitting the back of his head on the ice after his helmet fell off. He was ruled out with an upper-body injury.

The Kraken have now won four times at Anaheim and four times at home during their eight-game winning streak against the Ducks that extends back to November 2022.

The teams head to Seattle for the back end of a home-and-home series on Wednesday.

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Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal (1) blocks a shot with Seattle Kraken center Jaden Schwartz (17) looking on during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Seattle Kraken left wing Jared McCann, top, watches the puck get behind Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal (1) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal (1) deflects the puck with Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour (62) watching during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas (7) passes the puck away from Seattle Kraken left wing Tye Kartye (12) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Seattle Kraken center Shane Wright (51) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras, left, reacts after scoring against Seattle Kraken defenseman Adam Larsson (6) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Seattle Kraken center Shane Wright, right, deflects the puck to score against Anaheim Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger, left, and goaltender Lukas Dostal, center, during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

The Arizona Cardinals were rested, relatively healthy and had been playing some of their best football in years.

That's why Sunday's sobering 16-6 road loss to the Seattle Seahawks was so surprising.

“Frustrating day offensively, especially the way we’ve been playing to come out here and lay an egg and get physically dominated in a sense,” quarterback Kyler Murray said.

The Cardinals (6-5) had their four-game winning streak snapped. Murray completed 24 of 37 passes for 285 yards, but made a brutal mistake, throwing an interception that was returned 69 yards by Seattle's Coby Bryant. The running game never got going, gaining just 49 yards. James Conner, the team's leading rusher, had just 8 yards on seven attempts.

“There were a lot of things where it felt like the flow of things just wasn’t in our favor,” receiver Michael Wilson said. “Some games go like that. And then we didn’t execute enough to make up for the game sort of not going our way.”

Arizona's still in decent playoff position, tied with the Seahawks on top of the NFC West with six games to play. But after all the good news and winning over the past month, Sunday's loss was humbling.

“We’re going to learn a lot from this game,” coach Jonathan Gannon said.

Arizona's defense continued its remarkable midseason turnaround, giving the team every opportunity to win Sunday.

The front seven doesn't have any stars, but continues to cobble together a respectable pass rush. The Cardinals finished with five sacks, all by different players.

Second-year cornerback Garrett Williams intercepted a pass by Geno Smith on the first play of the fourth quarter, briefly giving the Cardinals some momentum as they tried to fight back. Williams — a third-round pick out of Syracuse in 2023 — is growing into a steady starting corner that the Cardinals have missed for years.

“I thought that they hung in there and battled, forced a bunch of punts, kept points off the board,” Gannon said. “I thought the interception by Garrett was fantastic, kept us in the game there, kept points off the board. We made some mistakes. We made some mistakes, starting with me.”

The Cardinals aren't going to win many games with a rushing performance like Sunday's.

Conner, held to a season low in yards rushing, did have 41 yards receiving. Rookie Trey Benson had four carries for 18 yards, while Emari Demercado broke a 14-yard gain.

Getting Conner going is key. Arizona has a 5-1 record this season when he has at least 100 total yards from scrimmage. Gannon said falling into an early hole affected some of the things the Cardinals could do, particularly in the second half.

“I thought there was plays there, but again, where you get down in that game, you’re not really playing normal ball there for a good chunk of the game,” Gannon said. “So we’ve got to do a better job earlier in the game to make sure we’re not playing left-handed.”

Fourth-year edge rusher Zaven Collins isn't necessarily the star fans hoped for when he was selected with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2021 draft, but he has quietly had a productive season leading the team's no-name front seven.

Collins picked up his fourth sack of the season Sunday and put consistent pressure on Smith.

Murray's still having a great season, but the quarterback's MVP credentials took a hit with Sunday's mediocre performance.

He played pretty well at times, but the interception that turned into a pick-6 was a backbreaker. The sixth-year quarterback had largely avoided those types of plays this season, which is a big reason they're in the playoff hunt.

“Can't give them seven points, especially when our defense is playing the way that they’re playing,” Murray said. “I feel like if I don’t do that, we’re in the game four quarters because that’s the way it was trending.”

The Cardinals came out of Sunday's game fairly healthy. Gannon said starting safety Jalen Thompson (ankle) should be back at practice Wednesday. He missed the last two games.

12 and 133 — Tight end Trey McBride continued his breakout season with a career-high 12 catches for 133 yards.

The Cardinals have another difficult road game against the Vikings (9-2) on Sunday.

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Arizona Cardinals place kicker Chad Ryland (38) kicks a field goal during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) pauses before joining teammates before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 16-6. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Dante Stills (55) and linebacker Kyzir White (7) celebrate during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) tries to get past Seattle Seahawks safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)