Just How Bad Is The Kraken Penalty Kill?

This bad:

The Kraken have given up two power play goals to opponents in five of their last six games, and that includes in their 5-3 win over the Utah Mammoth on October 22nd.

Those are horrendous, almost unbelievable PK numbers. The Kraken have the worst penalty kill in the National Hockey League at 64.1%. Escaping games with victories with that lack of success is not a sustainable trend, although the club also turned the trick at home last week against the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs.

The only game in the last half-dozen that Seattle didn’t give up two power play goals was, surprise, a 5-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on October 24th. The visitors from St. Paul went 0-for-2 on the man advantage.

“There’s no excuses here about, oh, we’re playing good teams, or good power plays, we’ve gotta find solutions within our group,” Kraken forward Freddie Gaudreau said after the 6-2 loss to the Flames on Friday night. “It’s on us.”

Morgan Frost’s 1st period PP goal.

It’s likely more so on the coaching staff. Although the assistants have swapped out since last season, the poor PK hasn’t changed. At least not yet. The Kraken missed the playoffs after finishing 31st out of 32 NHL teams last season in penalty killing. Games often come down to special teams and goaltending. It’s a cliche for a reason.

“We’re not good enough right now, that’s it,” Seattle head coach Lane Lambert added.

Systems must be adjusted and/or it’s time to give another player or two a crack at it. Seattle has four days off and two practices scheduled before their next game at home on Wednesday night against the Flames.