The Seattle Kraken begin their final road stretch of the season with a visit to Vancouver, and while the playoff dream is officially out of reach, this game still carries weight. For one, it’s the final meeting between two Pacific Division rivals who’ve played each other tight all year. In three previous games this season, the Kraken hold a 2-1 series edge—including a dramatic comeback in December where Seattle scored three goals in the final five minutes to steal the game in overtime.
There’s also a spoiler element in play. Vancouver, fighting for a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, needs every point down the stretch. A regulation loss to Seattle would deal a serious blow to their postseason hopes, and if there’s one thing this Kraken squad can hang its helmet on in the final few weeks, it’s being a thorn in someone else’s playoff path.
Young stars shining late
Despite a 5-1 loss to Dallas over the weekend, the Kraken have shown signs of life recently, including a six-goal outburst against Edmonton. With Chandler Stephenson now back in the lineup, the top-six has returned to a more veteran-heavy look—but that doesn’t mean the kids are getting benched. In fact, watching the young core has become one of the best parts of Kraken games lately.
Matty Beniers is closing in on 20 goals, which would be a huge late-season milestone after a challenging sophomore campaign. On the wing, Kaapo Kakko is fresh off setting a new career high in points with 41—a strong showing for the former No. 2 overall pick who has looked revitalized in Seattle. Jani Nyman, just 20 years old, continues to impress with six points in his first eight NHL games. And of course, Shane Wright remains in the mix, centering the third line and showing continued growth in limited minutes.
Daccord looks to bounce back
Tonight’s game is also an important one for Joey Daccord, who is expected to get the start after Philipp Grubauer took the net against Dallas. While Daccord has delivered some stellar performances this season, he’s struggled in past outings against the Canucks, posting a 1-2-1 record with a 3.77 goals-against average and .866 save percentage. Still, his last game against Vancouver was a 6-3 win, and a strong showing tonight would be another step in cementing his status as the Kraken’s No. 1 moving forward.
Chasing personal milestones
It’s not all just development, though. Jaden Schwartz and Eeli Tolvanen are still battling for the team lead in goals—both sitting in the low 20s—while Jared McCann has a chance to heat up again after a midseason slump. He may no longer be the frontrunner for team MVP, but he’s still capable of putting pucks in the net when given space.
A game that still means something
Between the potential for chaos, the fun of watching the next generation develop, and the chance to put a dent in a rival’s playoff push, this one has all the ingredients for a memorable game.
And with the Kraken owning two wins already in the season series, there's also pride on the line. Closing out the Canucks with a third win tonight wouldn’t just feel good—it would mean something.
Puck drops tonight at 7:30 p.m. Pacific.