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

Vancouver Canucks' Filip Hronek (17) and Seattle Kraken's Eeli Tolvanen (20) vie for the puck during the second period of an NHL game in Vancouver, on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (Ethan Cairns / The Canadian Press)

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.

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 Gemma Karstens-Smith of The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 2, 2026.