Kokko attempts goalie goal in 1st NHL start, stops 26 shots as Kraken beat Flames 4-1

SEATTLE (AP) — As time ran out on Nikke Kokko’s first career NHL start, the 22-year-old Seattle goalie flung the puck down the ice.

The Calgary Flames had already pulled their own goalie, Devin Cooley, as they tried to rally from a two-goal deficit in their 4-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Saturday.

Kokko’s prospective shot on goal was deflected deep in Seattle’s end by Flames forward Morgan Frost, though, ending any hopes of a storybook ending to the Oulu, Finland, native’s second career NHL game.

“This year, I tried three times, maybe, before that,” Kokko said of his time in the American Hockey League. “... It was good they (didn’t) score there after I tried.”

The Flames struggled to sneak any shots past Kokko, who made 26 saves. Kokko admitted he was “a little bit nervous” before Saturday’s game, but became more comfortable as he went through pregame warmups.

It didn’t hurt to have Victor Ostman, his goalie partner the last two years with the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL, on the scene.

“(We’ve) both had a good year so far,” said Kokko, who made his NHL debut Feb. 25 against the St. Louis Blues and was the youngest goalie to do so at the time. “It was really nice to share that moment with him.”

Of course, Kokko and Ostman were present because Seattle’s three goalies were out for different reasons. Starter Joey Daccord and backup Philipp Grubauer had lower-body injuries, and Matt Murray is away from the team tending to a personal matter.

The trickle-down effect left the Firebirds short-handed, and even more so because Coachella Valley’s expected starter, J ack LaFontaine, is out with an illness. As a result, the Firebirds signed Vince Stalletti — their goalie coach — to an amateur tryout with the intention of having him serve as the team’s backup.

Meanwhile, Kokko reunited with Seattle goaltending coach Colin Zulianello, who served in the same capacity for the Firebirds from 2022-25. Kokko was further put at ease by Zulianello’s presence, as most of his family and friends in Finland watched the game from there because there wasn’t enough time to make it to Seattle.

Kokko’s girlfriend did make it to Climate Pledge Arena in time for the game, though.

“I think he prepared me well,” Kokko said of Zulianello, “and he told me I (need) to play just my game, and what I do. I did that.”

In the process, Kokko impressed both his head coach Lane Lambert and forward Freddy Gaudreau, each of whom cracked a smile when discussing the goalie’s attempted shot on net.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a goalie that almost scored in his first game,” Gaudreau said. “But, that would have been awesome.”

“Well, (if) there’s a time and a place for it, OK,” Lambert said. “Just better not go bad.”

Seattle’s season may not have gone quite as expected. Before their second straight victory, the Kraken were eliminated from playoff contention for a third straight season when the Los Angeles Kings beat the Edmonton Oilers 1-0.

But, Seattle’s top goalie prospect demonstrated he can hold his own at this level — and that he isn’t afraid of taking the occasional risk, too.

“With Nikke coming in and being his first NHL start, I thought our guys did a good job, and made a concerted effort to give him as much help as possible,” Lambert said. “When we needed him, he made some good saves for us.”

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Seattle Kraken goaltender Nikke Kokko (39) stands during the National Anthem before an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Maddy Grassy)

Seattle Kraken goaltender Nikke Kokko makes a save during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Maddy Grassy)

Seattle Kraken goaltender Nikke Kokko makes a save during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Maddy Grassy)

Seattle Kraken goaltender Nikke Kokko makes a save during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Maddy Grassy)

DENVER (AP) — Jack Eichel scored 1:19 into overtime, and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Saturday night to secure a playoff berth.

Vegas (91 points) took over the Pacific Division lead from Edmonton with its fifth win in six games since coach John Tortorella was hired to replace Bruce Cassidy. The Oilers, who lost 1-0 at Los Angeles earlier, have 90 points and Anaheim is third with 89 points.

Knights goaltender Carter Hart, who finished with 30 saves, stoned Devon Toews on a shot and Eichel gathered the rebound. He skated down the left boards and beat Mackenzie Blackwood to win it.

Blackwood finished with 26 saves for Colorado, which lost defenseman Josh Manson to an upper-body injury and coach Jared Bednar early in the third period after getting hit in the head with the puck.

Keegan Kolesar was carrying the puck up along the boards in the neutral zone when he lifted it over into the Avs bench and struck Bednar, who went to his knees holding the side of his head.

He was helped to the locker room by one of the team's trainers and did not return to the bench. He was taken to a hospital after the game for a CT scan.

Colorado clinched the top overall seed with Thursday’s 3-1 win over Calgary, the third time in franchise history it has captured the Presidents’ Trophy. The Avs have a say in who wins the Pacific Division, too, with a game in Edmonton on Monday night.

Toews gave Colorado a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal midway through the first period and Mark Stone tied it on the Knights’ second man-advantage later in the period.

Pavel Dorofeyev gave Vegas a 2-1 lead 2:09 into the second period and Nick Blankenburg made it 2-all, his first goal with the Avs.

Golden Knights: Host Winnipeg on Monday night.

Avalanche: At Edmonton on Monday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Colorado Avalanche center Nicolas Roy, left, struggles to control the puck as Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore covers in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Vegas Golden Knights left wing Brandon Saad (20) drives past Colorado Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski (70) in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner, left, puts a shot on Colorado Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche center Parker Kelly, front right, fights past Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Rasmus Andersson, back right, as goaltender Carter Hart stops a shot in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, front, reacts after scoring the winning goal as right wing Mark Stone celebrates in overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)