Coming off yet another back-to-back defeat, the Seattle Kraken have run their record to 0-11 in the latter half of these grueling two-game sets. The sting of this most recent loss still lingers, and fans are already looking ahead to the final back-to-back opportunity, set to take place in two weeks. If the Kraken don’t find an answer, they could finish a painful 0-12 in these pivotal games—an unwanted chapter in franchise history.
Through these 11 losses, Seattle has been outscored by a combined 27 goals and suffered four shutouts. It’s not a stretch to say this has become a mental hurdle as much as a physical one. While back-to-back games are notoriously challenging for every NHL team, the Kraken’s consistent failures stand out for all the wrong reasons. By comparison, historically poor teams—like the 1974-75 Washington Capitals, who won just eight games total—still managed to grab four of those wins in the back half of back-to-backs. Seattle has yet to nab even one.
Examining the goaltending puzzle
Philipp Grubauer has been on the losing end of six of these games, Joey Daccord four, and Alex Stezka had the misfortune of starting his only NHL appearance in this tough scenario, also taking a loss. At times, the Kraken have simply seemed flat from the opening faceoff, struggling to find any offensive rhythm. Their highest single-game goal total in these second halves came in a 6-4 loss to Anaheim; aside from that outlier, the Kraken not scored more than a couple of goals in these matchups.
One of the central storylines to emerge from this slump has been the backup goaltending situation. Daccord, seen by many as the netminder of the future after signing a five-year extension, has shown stretches of brilliance. Yet his numbers have repeatedly dipped after the All-Star break in consecutive seasons:
• 2023 Pre-Break: 2.32 GAA | .921 SV%
• 2023 Post-Break: 2.78 GAA | .903 SV%
• 2024 Pre-Break: 2.49 GAA | .915 SV%
• 2024 Post-Break: 3.45 GAA | .877 SV%
Whether due to fatigue or lack of consistent support, this downward trend has forced the Kraken to lean heavily on a goaltender who isn’t at his best late in the season. The lack of a reliable second option adds further pressure: if Grubauer falters, Daccord often steps in on consecutive nights, which only worsens the fatigue factor.
Searching for redemption before the final showdown
With a little over two weeks until their last shot at a second-half back-to-back victory, the Kraken have a small window to address these challenges. Better defensive play, smarter scheduling of the goalie tandem, and a renewed focus on high-danger scoring chances could all be difference-makers. The team’s upcoming opponent—Utah Hockey Club—has been beaten twice by Seattle this season, so there’s reason to believe the Kraken can finally break the curse.
A single win in that final back-to-back scenario would not entirely erase the frustration of this season’s repeated stumbles, but it would provide a much-needed morale boost. A victory could also serve as a reminder that with the right adjustments—and perhaps a stronger backup plan—this team still has the potential to compete when faced with tight scheduling and playoff-like challenges.