Philipp Grubauer shines after Matt Murray injury, Seattle Kraken top Sharks

Tim Booth, The Seattle Times on Nov 16, 2025

Published in Hockey

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SEATTLE — Kraken 4, Sharks 1 at Climate Pledge Arena

Notable: Philipp Grubauer, take a bow.

The backup goalie for the Seattle Kraken took over when starter Matt Murray came out injured late in the first period and saved all 19 shots he faced as Seattle improved to 9-4-5 (23 points) and continued its best start to a season in franchise history.

Jaden Schwartz gave the Kraken the lead midway through the first period with his sixth goal of the season and Adam Larsson and Eeli Tolvanen scored 38 seconds apart in the second period. Schwartz provided the capper late in the third period when San Jose pulled the goalie on the power play, only to have Schwartz score from 120-feet away into the empty net.

Chandler Stephenson and Jamie Oleksiak both added a pair of assists.

The Kraken finished off a successful three-game homestand earning five of a possible six points and got a measure of payback after playing arguably their worst game of the season 10 days ago in a 6-1 loss to the Sharks.

This performance was more disciplined and got one of Grubauer’s best efforts in net in some time.

Grubauer took over at the end of the first period, taking to the ice after Murray came off with a lower-body injury that was suffered during a power play where former Kraken center Alex Wennberg scored.

Grubauer played perhaps one of his best periods in recent memory in the second, stopping 15 shots and a number of dangerous chances for the Sharks. He made three solid saves on Ty Dellandrea, Will Smith and William Eklund inside the first 21/2 minutes of the period. He got a break when Smith’s breakaway goal was disallowed after officials determined he made a kicking motion to get the puck over the goal line after Grubauer made the initial save. He also got some help when Schwartz made a sliding shot block with the net open and made a lunging glove save to rob Macklin Celebrini on a power play.

All of Grubauer’s work was rewarded with the two goals less than a minute apart late in the period. Larsson’s first of the season was created thanks to strong work on the wall by Jordan Eberle and Matty Beniers and traffic in front by Mason Marchment. Moments later, Stephenson made another spot pass to Tolvanen to finish an odd-man rush. It was Tolvanen’s third goal of the season.

The Kraken were sloppy in the third period taking a trio of needless penalties, but the penalty kill did their job in limiting San Jose’s chances despite the man advantage, capped by Schwartz’s empty-net goal with 3:29 left.

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Goal of the game: Larsson also scored his first goal of the 2023-24 season in a win over San Jose.

Player of the game: Grubauer deserves all the accolades for his performance off the bench. It’s the first time he’s come on in relief and earned a victory since March 2023 against Detroit.

On tap: The Kraken open a four-game road trip on Tuesday in Detroit against the Red Wings. Seattle isn’t back home until Nov. 26 against Dallas.