The Seattle Kraken kick off a five-game homestand tonight, welcoming the Anaheim Ducks for the final meeting between the two clubs this season. Seattle (22-26-3) has struggled mightily on the back end of back-to-back games, going winless in such scenarios so far. After falling 4-2 in Edmonton last night, the Kraken will look to flip the script and notch a victory on home ice.
All signs point to Philipp Grubauer getting the nod in goal for the first time since January 12, when he was pulled just six minutes into a rough outing after surrendering three goals. Since then, Joey Daccord has carried much of the goaltending load, but head coach Dan Bylsma appears eager to give Grubauer another shot—especially in a matchup where he can potentially shake off any lingering rust. There’s also been speculation that Seattle might consider moving the veteran netminder at the trade deadline, but his hefty contract and uneven performances this season could make that challenging.
The Kraken and Ducks have split their season series so far at 1-1, adding an extra dash of intrigue to tonight’s rubber match. While neither team is truly in playoff contention, both will be looking for positive momentum as the season winds down. For Seattle, it’s another chance to evaluate young talents like Matty Beniers, Kaapo Kakko, and Shane Wright, who have shown flashes of promise. Meanwhile, a reinvigorated Grubauer in net might inspire the Kraken to rediscover the solid team defense that’s often eluded them.
Puck drops at 7:00 PM PT at Climate Pledge Arena. If the Kraken can finally solve their second-game woes and offer Grubauer enough offensive support, they might reverse a troubling trend and open this homestand on a high note. Keep an eye on the top lines—and on whether Seattle’s once-struggling netminder can recapture his form against a familiar foe in Anaheim.