How Joonas Donskoi is contributing to Seattle Kraken despite no goals

4-1 at the start of the third period against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, things looked bleak for the Seattle Kraken.

Without clear trades, the improvements at Seattle Kraken must come from within

They played a power play early in the third round and striker Joonas Donskoi shot a shot that landed in the Columbus net. It was a goal that sparked momentum and the Kraken scored two more goals in the meantime for an unexpected comeback that forced overtime, where they earned a point in the standings.

To Donskoy, the monkey was off his back. After 27 games with Seattle, he had finally scored a goal. Or did he?

The replay showed that the puck hit the back of Jaden Schwartz, who flew in front of the Blue Jackets net. It would be a goal for Schwartz.

“I was like, ‘Oh, I scored a goal,” Donskoy said with a laugh. “I didn’t know it would hit Schwartzy, but that’s fine. That was a good screen from Schwartzy, there in front of the net and it hit his (butt). “

Donskoy, 29, is a goalscorer who hasn’t scored a goal, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t a big part of the Kraken attack this year.

With 14 points, all assists, he is seventh on the Kraken scoring list and finds ways to make an offensive contribution. His assist on Schwartz’s body resulted in a big goal, as did his assist on Ryan Donato’s goal on Tuesday to break a goalless draw with the San Jose Sharks. The Kraken would score an important 3-1 win that evening.

“The biggest thing is that he is offensive,” said Kraken coach Dave Hakstol. “The number of points that he has and that he recently played is what he generates games. A flash screen by Schwartzy, but a really good piece of Donnie. “

It would make sense for a man who has scored 78 career goals to push a little or clutch his cane too tightly to score.

But as a veteran of 428 NHL games, Donskoy knows how to deal with a goalless streak like the one he’s on.

“I’ve already covered a few stretches and feel like I’ve grown up a bit,” said Donskoy. “I have more experience now. I feel like I might beat myself up too much in the past. I was in my head and all that stuff. I feel like I couldn’t think about it too much if you understand what I mean? “

“Of course I want to score goals and hopefully it will be online soon, but I don’t think about it too much. I just think about performance and practicing and make sure I’m ready to play and do those other little things. “

From Finland via San Jose to Seattle

Hailing from Raahe, Finland, Donskoi made his NHL debut with the San Jose Sharks in 2015, scoring eleven goals as a rookie. He added six more in the playoffs that season when the Sharks made it to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in their franchise history.

Its winner in game 3 in extra time gave the Sharks their first win in the final. (Look at the gate here)

Donskoi spent his last two years with the Colorado Avalanche and had his two best seasons of his career with 16 and 17 markers in two shortened COVID-19 seasons. When Colorado exposed him in the NHL Expansion Draft, he was an easy pick for the Kraken.

He ended his best shooting season in the NHL, scoring 19.8 percent of his shot attempts. This season, that percentage stays at zero, but it still manages 1.2 shots per game, which is just slightly below the 1.7 it scored last season.

Even if he shot 15 percent, he would score five goals and fight for the Kraken’s top scorer. The law of averages states that at some point the puck will come into play for him.

Donskoi does a little of everything

Instead of emphasizing the lack of goals, Donskoy helped elsewhere.

He was a mainstay of the Kraken power play, but also contributed to the penalty shoot-out – something he hadn’t done much for until last season in Colorado. He’s proud of that.

“I’ve started playing a little with the Avalanche in the last few years,” he said. “I’m happy that I’m getting more opportunities on penalties and that I’m just trying to do a good job. Hopefully I can be trustworthy. “

Hakstol has been able to poke Donskoi up and down the lineup, and he conforms.

In the last three games he has played with Ryan Donato and new signing Alexander True. The line is called “The Shark Line” because all three players spent time with San Jose. The line was the fourth line for Seattle but has held its own.

You gave the go-ahead in San Jose on Monday, created six goalscoring opportunities and conceded seven goals. They created four highly dangerous chances and while they weren’t a great goal line, they won shifts, especially in the last two street games where they often faced the top lines of their opponents.

One can hardly expect more from a fourth line.

True is on the team as Colin Blackwell, Yanni Gourde and Riley Sheahan are on the COVID-19 log, so the Shark Line’s lifespan will most likely be short. Donskoi is the anchor of this line and can improve its surroundings.

If the Kraken get their full number of players back, Donskoi may play on a more offensive line.

Every successful team has “glue” boys on the list. Guys who can step in on different lines and in different situations. Donskoy was the type for the Kraken this year. At some point the puck will go into the net for him and his hard work will be rewarded.

“He’s a professional and wants to produce in that regard,” said Hakstol. “The greatest thing for him is to always do things right. And I know that as a veteran in this league he’s confident enough to keep doing that and the first goal will come and hopefully a few more will come after that. “

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