Kraken weekend woes: Back-to-back road losses extend Seattle’s slump

It was a weekend Seattle Kraken fans would rather forget. After watching their team fall 6-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, there was a glimmer of hope that they might bounce back against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed when the Kraken fell 5-2 in Denver, extending their losing streak to five games.

Saturday in Sin City

The Seattle Kraken opened Saturday night in Vegas with an early spark, as Vince Dunn struck on the power play just 2:34 into the contest, providing hope of snapping a daunting losing streak. Unfortunately for Seattle, that glimmer faded fast. Less than 15 minutes later, the Golden Knights had not only equalized but also piled on three total goals before the first intermission.

Seattle’s power play remained a rare bright spot: Jaden Schwartz added another man-advantage tally in the third, and Chandler Stephenson collected helpers on both Kraken goals. Still, the team struggled to produce meaningful five-on-five offense. Despite 23 shots on net, the Kraken rarely threatened Ilya Samsonov with sustained pressure.

Meanwhile, Vegas showcased its typical efficiency. Mark Stone, Jack Eichel, and William Karlsson orchestrated a balanced attack, exploiting Seattle’s defensive lapses. Philipp Grubauer faced 33 shots, conceding five goals—one was from a dominant Vegas power play, while the final goal was an empty-netter that sealed the 6–2 decision.

Ultimately, Seattle’s inability to control possession and clamp down defensively negated any momentum their power play generated. The loss extended the Kraken’s recent slump, underscoring the need for urgent improvements at even strength if they aim to remain in the playoff conversation.

Sunday at Mile High

Less than 24 hours after falling to Vegas, the Kraken traveled to Colorado determined to avoid a repeat performance. Early on, things looked promising. Despite Cale Makar giving the Avalanche a 1–0 lead on the power play, Seattle responded before intermission with Jared McCann’s 12th goal—assisted by Shane Wright and Yanni Gourde—to tie it at 1–1.

Kaapo Kakko, recently acquired from the New York Rangers, opened the second period with his first goal as a Kraken, putting Seattle up 2–1. But Valeri Nichushkin answered 11 seconds later, and Joel Kiviranta’s tally at 12:01 gave Colorado a 3–2 edge.

For much of the contest, the Kraken matched the Avalanche stride stride, generating quality chances and battling along the boards. Trailing by one goal with minutes left, Seattle pulled their goalie, looking to salvage at least a point. Instead, Colorado cashed in with an empty-netter to make it 4–2. Undeterred, the Kraken tried the extra attacker again, only for Kiviranta to seal his hat trick with another empty-net goal.

Instead, Colorado cashed in with an empty-netter to make it 4–2. Undeterred, the Kraken tried the extra attacker again, only for Kiviranta to seal his hat trick with another empty-net goal. Though the 5–2 final suggests an Avalanche win, the Kraken’s effort felt closer. Seattle’s back-to-back losses still highlight a need for better late-game execution if they hope to remain in the playoff hunt.

Five in a Row

In these five defeats, recurring issues have dogged Seattle. Their once-improved defensive structure has sprung leaks at inopportune times. Turnovers in the neutral zone and struggles with defensive zone coverage are resulting in prime scoring chances for opponents. Meanwhile, the Kraken’s offense has shown flashes of creativity, but hasn’t been potent or consistent enough to make up for the lapses on the back end.

With time ticking away on the season, the Kraken find themselves slipping further from the playoff picture. That doesn’t mean the campaign is beyond salvation, but the margin for error has narrowed significantly. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that Sunday’s effort in Colorado displayed more cohesion and resilience than the blowout in Vegas.

Seattle’s path forward will require shoring up mistakes and capitalizing on momentum when it’s there. Defensive discipline, finishing on quality scoring opportunities, and special teams execution are all areas the Kraken must improve if they hope to reverse their fortunes.

For the Kraken faithful, it’s been a tough stretch. But as every hockey fan knows, momentum in this sport can change on a dime. Now more than ever, the players and coaching staff need to find that spark—and fast—before the losses pile too high to overcome.