The Seattle Kraken followed up their rousing comeback victory in Buffalo with a swift return to the loss column on Sunday, dropping a 6-2 decision to the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. Entering the contest, Seattle had enjoyed a solid track record in Detroit, going 4-0-2 all-time in Motown, while goaltender Philipp Grubauer held a personal 4-0-1 mark against the Red Wings. Despite those favorable numbers, the Kraken struggled mightily on the second leg of a back-to-back yet again, falling to 0-8-0 when playing on zero days’ rest this season.
Detroit wasted no time seizing control, scoring three goals within the first six minutes of the opening period, including one on the power play, to put Seattle in a hole it would never climb out of. The early barrage forced head coach Dan Bylsma’s hand, prompting him to pull Grubauer for Joey Daccord—a decision that raised eyebrows considering Daccord had played the previous night and was recently called into action midgame just a few days prior. While it’s understandable to want to stop the bleeding, fans questioned whether it was the best move for a goaltender coming off an injury, especially with the Kraken’s playoff odds hovering around 1%.
Searching for consistency in the crease
Unfortunately for Seattle, the goalie swap didn’t provide the spark they hoped for. Detroit tacked on two more power-play goals in the second period to extend the lead to 6-0, capitalizing on the Kraken’s undisciplined play and defensive miscues. Seattle’s special teams offered a glimmer of hope late in the frame when Oliver Bjorkstrand finally got the Kraken on the board with a power-play tally. But by that point, the damage was done, and the Red Wings had full control of the contest.
The Kraken, meanwhile, continued a worrying pattern of lackluster performances on consecutive nights, giving up 24 goals and scoring only 8 in the latter half of back-to-backs this season. Still, there were a few bright spots to take away. Matty Beniers found the net early in the third period for his eighth goal of the year, assisted by Kaapo Kakko, who has been steadily asserting himself on the top line. Their burgeoning chemistry remains a key positive for a team focusing on player development, even if the rest of the night felt like a step backward.
When the final buzzer sounded, Seattle was left with a 6-2 defeat that did little to ease concerns about inconsistent goaltending, defensive lapses, and questionable roster decisions. As the season continues and the playoffs become an increasingly distant prospect, the Kraken will look to strike a balance between pushing for wins and safeguarding the health of their rising stars. It’s a difficult tightrope to walk, but if the youth movement keeps showing promise—like Beniers and Kakko did on Sunday—there’s still plenty for fans to be optimistic about.