The Seattle Kraken wrapped up a weekend of home hockey with mixed results, securing a 4-2 victory over the Utah Hockey Club on Friday before falling in overtime 3-2 to the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday. While Seattle managed to pick up three out of four possible points, the games highlighted both encouraging performances and ongoing concerns as the regular season winds down.
Grubauer’s redemption arc continues
Friday’s win against Utah marked another step forward for Philipp Grubauer, who has looked rejuvenated since returning from his AHL stint. The veteran netminder stopped 23 of 25 shots, securing his second straight win and posting a .920 save percentage. After struggling mightily before his demotion, posting a 4.73 GAA and .827 SV%, Grubauer has returned looking much sharper with a 1.50 GAA and .939 SV% in his two games back. The sample size is small, but these performances are promising signs that he may be able to provide reliable support down the stretch.
Eeli Tolvanen was the offensive catalyst against Utah, scoring twice, including an empty-net goal, and adding an assist. Kaapo Kakko netted the game-winning goal unassisted in the third period, and Brandon Montour continued his strong play with a second-period goal that tied the game at 2-2. Jordan Eberle also chipped in with two assists, continuing his steady contributions.
Seattle pushes league-leading Jets to the brink...again
Sunday’s showdown with Winnipeg once again showcased the Kraken’s ability to punch above their weight against top-tier teams. Though Seattle is far from playoff contention, they’ve played the league-leading Jets incredibly tough this season, losing all three meetings by a single goal, including two in overtime.
Jani Nyman continued to impress in his first NHL stint, scoring his second career goal on the power play to open the scoring. The 20-year-old Finnish winger has now tallied twice in his first three games and has shown flashes of his scoring prowess that made him a standout in the AHL this season. Michael Eyssimont also found the back of the net for the first time as a Kraken, giving Seattle a 2-0 lead in the first period.
However, the Jets fought back with a goal from Cole Perfetti late in the first, followed by Kyle Connor’s equalizer in the second. The game remained deadlocked until overtime, when Dylan Samberg capitalized on a Seattle defensive lapse to seal the 3-2 win for Winnipeg.
Joey Daccord made 23 saves on 26 shots in the loss, continuing a concerning post-All-Star break trend. While Daccord has been Seattle’s most reliable goaltender this season, his numbers have dipped significantly after a heavy workload in the first half. Managing his starts down the stretch will be crucial if the Kraken want to keep their young netminder fresh.
Balancing the crease down the stretch
Seattle’s approach to goaltending over the weekend was notable, as Grubauer was given the “easier” matchup against Utah while Daccord faced the challenge of shutting down Winnipeg’s high-powered offense. This strategy may be the best way forward, allowing Grubauer a chance to prove he deserves another shot while easing Daccord’s workload.
With only a handful of games left in the season, the focus should be on managing ice time effectively and giving younger players like Nyman a chance to shine. If Grubauer can maintain his strong form, he could provide the Kraken with a much-needed second option in goal, something they’ve lacked for much of the season.
Seattle now looks ahead to its next matchup, hoping to build on its recent momentum while continuing to evaluate players for next season’s roster.