Jacob Melanson's 1st NHL goal sparks red-hot Kraken to win over Flames

Kate Shefte, The Seattle Times on Jan 6, 2026

Published in Hockey

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

Jacob Melanson’s first NHL goal got the Kraken going in a 5-1 road victory against the Calgary Flames, which extended Seattle’s point streak to eight games.

Melanson, 22, has impressed in the 11 games since his call-up. The winger plays a heavy, frenetic game and his team-high five hits Monday night in Calgary put him fifth on the team with 46, even though he’s played a little over a fourth of the Kraken’s slate.

He was on a three-game assist streak as a member of Seattle’s flourishing fourth line. Melanson, a 2021 draft selection, scored one of his own when Ryan Winterton threaded a pass through the crease. Winterton’s former Coachella Valley Firebirds teammate was all alone at the back door.

Melanson yelled his approval, maybe with an expletive thrown in, as Winterton came in for a hug and the Kraken equipment staff snagged his milestone puck for safekeeping.

The Kraken are closing in on a point streak just as long as the swoon that preceded it. Seattle dropped nine of 10 games in regulation before heading off on this current 7-0-1 run. Their most recent regulation loss was Dec. 18 in Calgary.

Melanson tied the game at 1. On his 22nd birthday, Shane Wright scored the go-ahead goal less than two minutes into the third period.

After a partial line change, fourth-line center Ben Meyers held onto the puck and waited for Wright to charge toward the net. Meyers put a pass directly ahead of Wright and the young forward marked another year around the sun with his seventh goal of the season.

Defenseman Vince Dunn zipped up the middle and scored an insurance goal a little over three minutes later.

Frederick Gaudreau sank the empty netter for the Kraken.

Calgary goaltender Dustin Wolf returned to the net, but hadn’t gotten settled by the time Matty Beniers scored 14 seconds later to turn the game into a rout.

Beniers has had himself a week as well. He scored twice against the Nashville Predators on New Year’s Day, then made highlight reels with his elegant shootout move the next night in Vancouver.

His second shootout goal on 11 career attempts decided the winner and secured the Kraken the extra standings point.

Seattle goaltender Philipp Grubauer made season-high 41 saves and bailed out his team repeatedly through two periods until the offense started clicking.

Teammate Adam Larsson hooked Flames forward Jonathan Huberdeau on a breakaway and the officials awarded a penalty shot, which Grubauer handled.

Also in the first period, Calgary’s Blake Coleman pushed his way to the net and fired into Grubauer’s pads. The Kraken goalie held onto the puck even as Coleman used his stick to shove him into his own goal post.

Grubauer has allowed a single goal in each of his last four starts. He’s split time evenly with Joey Daccord, as the Kraken are nearing the end of four consecutive back-to-backs.

The Kraken (19-14-7) clearly aren’t sweating this wonky stretch of the schedule. It ends Tuesday against the Boston Bruins at Climate Pledge Arena.

________