> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Bottom-Six Propels Kraken to Big Win Over Panthers - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/seattle-kraken-florida-panthers-bottom-six-leads-big-win/ - Published: 2026-03-16T03:53:21.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T06:15:35.000Z - Author: Corbin Smith - Tags: News, Kraken, Lane Lambert, Berkly Catton, Ryan Lindgren, Ryan Winterton, Frederick Gaudreau, Ben Meyers, Kaapo Kakko, Shane Wright, Jamie Oleksiak, Vince Dunn, Joey Daccord, Bobby McMann, Chandler Stephenson, Eeli Tolvanen \[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="4622"\] ![ The Seattle Kraken celebrate after defeating the Florida Panthers at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/the-seattle-kraken-celebrate-after-defeating-the-florida-panthers-at-climate-pledge-arena--mandatory-credit-3a-steven-bisig-imagn-images-format-original-1.jpg) The Seattle Kraken celebrate after defeating the Florida Panthers at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images \[/caption\] SEATTLE, Wash. — After snapping their four-game losing streak with a 5-2 win against the Vancouver Canucks, the Seattle Kraken’s new-look top line and trade deadline acquisition Bobby McMann’s three-point debut stole the show. Less than 24 hours later, it was the Kraken bottom-six that powered Seattle to a back-to-back sweep with a 6-2 win against the Florida Panthers at Climate Pledge Arena on Sunday. With two goals each from the third- and fourth-line, the Kraken displayed the top-to-bottom production they’ll need if they want to hold down a spot in the Western Conference playoff picture, which they reclaimed after San Jose lost 7-4 to Ottawa on Sunday. “We need everybody,” Kraken coach Lane Lambert said. “That’s the way it’s going to be, and certainly we need everybody and needed everybody on a second night of a back-to-back with a rested team here waiting for us, and Joey (Daccord) played well right off the start, and then our fourth line stepped up and got us going with some energy … so huge for us, but we’re a four-line hockey team, and that’s what we need out of them.” It’s worth noting that both wins came against teams well outside the playoff bubble, but with just 16 games left in the regular season, Seattle will take points however it can get them. The Kraken built up a 2-0 lead getting bodies to the front of the net, with a Freddy Gaudreau deflecting off Ryan Winterton and Ben Meyers on its way to the net at 5:28 of the first period before a Berkly Catton rebound finished a skillful move to the net from Kaapo Kakko at 11:52. Even before the second goal was scored, both the top line and fourth line put together strong shifts in the offensive zone. “They’re a really tight team, like not a lot really happens,” Catton said. “So I think when you get a couple shifts like that, it’s big. And we capitalized on our chances tonight and last night, too, which is awesome.” That momentum was quickly zapped when Florida cut it to 2-1 just 15 seconds later, as Vinnie Hinostroza beat Daccord off an odd-man rush. The Panthers had a chance to tie it when Ryan Lindgren committed a holding penalty at 13:30, but the penalty kill stepped up with blocks from Jamie Oleksiak and Gaudreau, and Winterton later extended the lead to 3-1 at 18:24, rebounding a shot from Meyers off the post. The third line struck again early in the second to make it 4-1, as Catton picked up a loose puck in the right circle and sent it around the boards to Vince Dunn, who found Kakko below the goal line. With space to work with, Kakko drifted to the front of the crease and wrapped it around Panthers goalie Daniil Tarasov to extend the lead to three goals at 3:20 of the second. “Shane (Wright) is using his speed. (Catton) can make plays. He’s got speed, too. (Kakko’s) been really good. … He’s shown a lot more confidence,” Lambert said of his young third line. “He’s owning pucks, doing things down low. He’s been really, really good. It’s good to see those guys rewarded tonight.” Approaching the midway point of the second period, Florida gained an opportunity to cut the deficit when Chandler Stephenson and Eeli Tolvanen took high-sticking penalties at 7:23 and 8:27, respectively, giving the Panthers just under a minute of a 5-on-3 power play. With Gaudreau, Lindgren and Adam Larsson working in front of Daccord, the trio managed to kill enough time on clearances while the goalie jumped in with a couple of needed stops to protect the lead across nearly three full minutes of short-handed play. “Seemed like we did a good job of being connected,” Lindgren said. “We pressured when we could, and obviously (Daccord) made some huge saves when he had to. So yeah, it was a critical point of the game, and we did a good job.” While it was the bottom-six that built up the lead on Sunday, McMann still made his mark in his first home game with his new team, scoring a power-play goal in the slot from Kakko at 10:07 of the third period before returning the favor to Jamie Oleksiak on a similar play at 14:37. In just two games with his new team, the 29-year-old forward has three goals and two assists. “(McMann’s) been awesome,” Winterton said. “He’s fast, can shoot the puck. Kind of just what we needed. Gets in on forecheck, and I watched a lot of his games in Toronto, so I kind of knew his game before, and I like it a lot.” The Panthers managed to tack on a goal in the final seconds from Eetu Luostarinen to set up the 6-2 final, but it did nothing to damper the newfound confidence in the room after a productive back-to-back slate. The only question is if the Kraken can sustain it when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday before embarking on a six-game road trip to close out March.