Kraken Blow Lead, Allow Six Unanswered in Critical Loss to Utah
SEATTLE, Wash. - Jacob Melanson was doing Jacob Melanson things.
Moments after beating out a potential icing for the Seattle Kraken, which faced the Utah Mammoth at Climate Pledge Arena on Thursday, the 22-year-old forward redirected a Ryan Lindgren shot past Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka to extend Seattle’s lead to 3-1 early in the second period.
That kind of high-motor, physical play getting instantly rewarded is just what a Kraken team fighting for a Western Conference wild card spot needs. Instead, it was instantly stripped away.
The Mammoth successfully challenged for goaltender interference, bringing the score back to 2-1. Utah tied it four minutes later, erasing its 2-0 deficit and scoring four more unanswered goals to secure a 6-2 win.
Kraken Fall Out of Playoff Spot as Skid Continues in 5-1 Loss to Avalanche
The difference between the first and second period was night and day for the Seattle Kraken against the Colorado Avalanche at Climate Pledge Arena on Thursday.
A lethargic effort from Seattle and a three-point period from Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon put the Kraken in a 3-0 hole through 20 minutes, but the home side came out of the gates swinging in the second period.
Despite building up a 10-0 shots on goal advantage through 10:25, Seattle could not manage to get on the board before Adam Larsson committed a tripping penalty to put the Kraken on the penalty kill.
What should have been a momentum killer was the exact opposite. Chandler Stephenson set up Ryker Evans for a short-handed goal, and Seattle was back in business.
For less than four minutes, unfortunately.
Jordan Eberle Signs Two-Year Extension With Kraken
The captain is staying aboard.
Just a couple of hours before the NHL Trade Deadline on Friday, the Seattle Kraken agreed to re-sign Jordan Eberle to a two-year, $11 million extension, locking him up through the 2027-28 season.
Jordan Eberle, Kraken Right the Ship Against Rival Canucks in 5-1 Victory
The Kraken got off to a slow start following the Olympic break. They dropped back-to-back games on the road to come out of the break, by a combined score of 9-2. After entering the Olympic break in a strong playoff spot, Seattle’s position in the Western Conference looked tenuous out of the gate following the games in Milan.
Luckily for the Kraken, the worst team in the NHL showed up at Climate Pledge Arena, in the Vancouver Canucks.
Kraken Stumble Out of Olympic Break With 4-1 Loss to Stars
Coming off the extended Olympic break, the Seattle Kraken managed to put together the kind of start they wanted against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday.
Playing physical from the jump, Seattle did not allow a shot on goal from Dallas between 5:21 and 12:40 in the first period, and put together a productive power-play opportunity in that span, albeit without scoring.
However, the Stars picked up the pressure in the final minutes of the first, scoring just 1:19 before the intermission before taking a 2-0 lead 1:43 into the second. Before the second period was half over, the Kraken trailed 4-0 en route to a 4-1 loss.
Kraken Re-Sign Ben Meyers, Ryan Winterton to Extensions
Ben Meyers and Ryan Winterton are sticking around. Coming out of the Olympic break, the Seattle Kraken announced contract extensions for both forwards, each of whom has impressed in bottom-six roles in their first full-time stints with the club this season, in a press release on Tuesday.
Meyers, 27, agreed to a two-year, $2 million contract ($1 million AAV), lasting through the 2027-28 season. After starting the season in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, Meyers was called up to Seattle for a nine-game stint from Oct. 21-Nov. 13, tallying three assists before being sent back down to Coachella Valley. Following the reassignment, Meyers authored an eight-game point streak (seven goals and four assists) before returning to Seattle on Dec. 10, where he’s played since.
In 31 NHL games this season, Meyers has five goals and 11 points. Since his last recall in December, the Delano, Minn. native has carved out a key role on Seattle’s fourth line, displaying good chemistry and production with Winterton, Tye Kartye and Jacob Melanson.
‘Always Want to Get That One Back’: Wright Pulls Kraken Past Maple Leafs to Third Straight Win
Redeeming himself after an early snafu on Thursday night, Shane Wright’s two-goal effort steered the Kraken past the Maple Leafs in a convincing 5-2 win. Jumping into third place in the Pacific Division, how did Seattle get it done at Climate Pledge Arena?
Stripped of Hat Trick, Jared McCann Leads Kraken to Wild 5-1 Win vs. Capitals
While two separate chances to record a hat trick were taken away from him, Jared McCann finished with two goals and two assists for the Kraken to headline a dominant 5-1 win against the Capitals on Tuesday. What stood out from one of the team’s most complete games?
Kraken Bounce Back With Third-Period Burst Against Devils
After entering the third period at Climate Pledge Arena tied 1-1 against the Devils on Sunday, the Kraken managed to put just four more shots on goal with a goalie in the net. Luckily for them, two of them went in, allowing them to secure a much-needed win.
‘Weren’t Very Good at All’: Kraken Lose Crucial Home Division Matchup Against Ducks
With crucial points on the line against the Anaheim Ducks at Climate Pledge Arena on Friday, the Seattle Kraken floundered, missing out on a key opportunity in a loss Lane Lambert summed up as a “disappointment.”
Kraken Squander Overtime Opportunity After Comeback Against Wild
Much like their opponents who rolled through Climate Pledge Arena in the first half of December, the Kraken executed a third-period comeback against the Wild on Thursday, looking to steal another win. But overtime didn’t work out in their favor.
Kraken’s Second Period Burst Leads to 7-4 Win Against Bruins as Kartye Returns to Ice
With Eeli Tolvanen out, coach Lane Lambert broke up the highly productive fourth line for the Kraken on Tuesday night. It was a risky move, but one that paid off and then some as red-hot Seattle earned a 7-4 home win over Boston.
Analysis: What’s Behind Longstanding Kraken’s Shootout Woes?
There have been many persistent issues over the Seattle Kraken’s first few years of existence, and problems on the shootout are perhaps an under-discussed one. Why have the Kraken struggled to gain the edge in the one-on-one?
Kraken Build ‘Rare’ Big Lead, Extend Point Streak to Six Against Predators
Continuing to play much better on the ice, the Kraken extended their points streak to six thanks to an explosive first period that had been unrivaled by the franchise in over a calendar year. How did Seattle put away Nashville swiftly at Climate Pledge Arena?
Kraken Extend Win Streak to Four After Christmas Break, Snag 4-1 Win vs. Flyers
In the midst of a three-game winning streak, the arrival of Holiday Break appeared to come at the worst time for the Kraken. But the long break didn’t cool off Lane Lambert’s squad, which kept rolling in a big win over the Flyers at Climate Pledge Arena.
Analysis: What Mason Marchment Trade Could Signal for Kraken
Following their 10th loss in the past 11 games on Thursday, the Kraken decided to shake things up by dealing their biggest offseason acquisition to the Blue Jackets for a pair of future draft choices. What does the decision indicate about Seattle’s future plans?
More Missed Opportunities Plague Kraken as Avalanche Mount Third Period Comeback
Facing the NHL’s top team, the Kraken put themselves in position to drive home a much-needed victory in the third period with a one goal lead. But in key moments down the stretch, Lane Lambert’s team came up short yet again, losing for the ninth time in 10 games.
Kraken Concede Another Late Winner, Lose Sixth Straight
For the second game in a row — and the third time in five games — the Seattle Kraken allowed the go-ahead goal in the third period of an otherwise close game in Monday’s 4-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild. The Kraken have lost five straight in regulation and six consecutive overall.
Special Teams Woes Doom Kraken Against Oilers in 9-4 Blowout Defeat
The Seattle Kraken made history against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night. Just not the kind they would want to write home about.
Mason Marchment Injury Disrupts Kraken’s New Top Line
Continuing to deal with injury after injury, the Kraken will be down another key player for at least one game in Edmonton, if not longer.
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