from Larry Stoe of the Seattle Times,

It was a party two years or a century-plus in the making, depending on how much of an homage one chooses to pay the Seattle Metropolitans. Suffice it to say the fans at Climate Pledge Arena arrived Saturday ready to bellow, and the Kraken provided them the requisite break-loose moment a mere six minutes into the game.

The roar was primal, the jubilation genuine, when Jaden Schwartz tipped home a shot from the point by Justin Schultz to become an instant trivia answer: First home playoff goal in Seattle Kraken history.

The night would end in ultimate disappointment for the Kraken — spiced by more short-lived euphoria — but at that moment, every manner of glory and triumph seemed possible.

“We were loose, we were prepared, we were ready for this one, no question,” Kraken coach Dave Hakstol said. “I love their start tonight. Love the atmosphere. Love the feel of the building. That’s a playoff feel. That’s what it is. That part of it was awesome. We didn’t complete the first period. … Our start was tremendous. It has a real different look if we complete the first period in a different way.”

Before the game, Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke had taken the mike and exhorted the crowd to “blow the roof off this joint.” As the press-box shook in the euphoric aftermath of Schwartz’s goal, it seemed for a flash they might be taking him literally. Thinking back to the Mariners’ drought-breaking home playoff game in October, when fans came with the same thirst but waited in vain for 18 innings and nearly five hours for a cathartic yell that never came, it was a made-for-memories moment.

But then reality hit, and the memories of this game for posterity seemed headed for bittersweet, bordering on sour.

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