The Seattle Kraken return home tonight to face the Edmonton Oilers in what feels like a familiar—and frustrating—script. Seattle has lost nine straight games to their Pacific Division rivals, including a 5-4 defeat just five days ago in Edmonton. With only ten games left in the regular season, this is their final shot to avoid a tenth consecutive loss to the Oilers and prove they can finally break through.
The Oilers keep rolling without their stars
Despite missing both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers haven’t skipped a beat. In the last meeting, it was Ryan Nugent-Hopkins who torched the Kraken for a hat trick, scoring at even strength, on the power play, and short-handed. That offensive depth continues to be the Oilers' biggest weapon—even with their top two out, they’ve found ways to score and win, now sitting comfortably in the playoff picture.
Seattle will need a complete effort tonight, especially in net. Joey Daccord made 24 saves in the previous loss to Edmonton, but with the goals piling up late, the margin for error was razor thin. Whether it’s Daccord or Philipp Grubauer between the pipes tonight, the Kraken need someone to step up and shut the door.
Young core continues to earn key minutes
With Chandler Stephenson expected to miss another game due to injury, Shane Wright is once again stepping into a top-line role—and making the most of it. The 20-year-old logged a career-high 19:54 in Minnesota after Stephenson exited early, and he’s continued to earn more ice time ever since. Now centering a line with veterans Jaden Schwartz and captain Jordan Eberle, Wright is showcasing poise, responsibility, and flashes of high-end skill.
Meanwhile, the line of Matty Beniers between Kaapo Kakko and Jani Nyman is one for the future. All three are former early round draft picks, and their chemistry is beginning to take shape. As the season winds down, these combinations offer a glimpse into what the Kraken could look like next year—and maybe, with the right breaks, they’ll give the Oilers more trouble than expected tonight.
Who will lead the Kraken in goals?
While much of the focus is on development, there’s still a leaderboard battle worth watching. Eeli Tolvanen and Jaden Schwartz are neck-and-neck at 21 goals apiece, with Tolvanen quietly becoming one of Seattle’s most consistent finishers and Schwartz continuing to show his veteran scoring touch. With ten games left, the race to finish as the Kraken’s top goal scorer could go down to the wire.
No one’s pretending this season has gone as planned. But wins like tonight—against a perennial thorn like Edmonton—still matter. Whether it's finally snapping the losing streak, watching the young guns shine, or simply defending home ice with pride, there’s always something to play for.