By The Canadian Press

Beniers scores in shootout, Seattle Kraken outlast Vancouver Canucks for 4-3 win

Jan 2, 2026 | 11:41 PM

VANCOUVER — Matty Beniers scored the decisive shootout goal and the Seattle Kraken held on for a 4-3 win over the Canucks in Vancouver on Friday.

Cale Fleury, Chandler Stephenson and Ben Meyers all scored for the Kraken (18-14-7) in regulation.

The visitors, who were coming off a 4-1 home win over the Nashville Predators on Thursday, got 20 saves from Joey Daccord.

Jake DeBrusk had a goal and two assists for the Canucks (16-20-4), marking his first goal in eight games and his first multi-point game of the season.

Kiefer Sherwood and Linus Karlsson also scored for Vancouver, and Thatcher Demko stopped 25 of the 28 shots he faced.

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Karlsson’s goal came hours after he signed a two-year, US$4.5-million extension with the team.

TAKEAWAYS

Canucks: Special teams were a strength for the home side. Vancouver went 2-for-3 on the power play, and got multiple opportunities while short-handed.

Kraken: Continue to get production from their fourth line. Wingers Ryan Winterton and Jacob Melanson each contributed an assist on Meyers’ second-period goal, extending their point streaks to three games apiece.

KEY MOMENT

A chance for Vancouver at one end of the rink quickly turned into a goal for Seattle. Canucks winger Drew O’Connor missed his shot on a short-handed 2-on-0 and the puck went backup the ice where Stephenson sent a one-timer screaming past Demko to give the Kraken a 2-0 lead with a power-play goal 8:53 into the second period.

KEY STAT

Seattle is on a seven-game point streak (6-0-1). The lone loss was a 3-2 shootout loss to the Canucks on Dec. 29.

UP NEXT

Kraken: Battle the Flames in Calgary on Sunday.

Canucks: Host the Boston Bruins on Saturday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 2, 2026.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press