The Kraken can’t lose to the Canucks on Saturday night in Vancouver. It’s that simple.
Now on the outside of the Western Conference playoff bubble due to a record of 2-and-6 since the NHL’s Olympic break, Seattle faces a must win situation.
That, after losing at home 5-1 Thursday to the conference’s leading team, the Colorado Avalanche. By the way, it was the Kraken’s fourth straight loss; a less than inspirational start to the all-important stretch drive.
Meanwhile, Seattle’s neighbors to the north are pathetic. 32nd out of 32 NHL teams with 48 total points, 14 behind the next worst team in the league, the Canucks should provide an easy mark. The Kraken did beat them 5-1 on February 28th at Climate Pledge Arena.
Then again, the Canucks might be riding an unexpected burst of confidence.
Vancouver actually did Seattle a surprising favor on Thursday night, coming back from down two goals late in regulation to force overtime and a shoot-out to beat the Nashville Predators 4-3. The Preds were coming off the 4-2 win in Seattle on Tuesday night.
The result of all of these scores: Seattle dropped from their tenuous playoff position into a three-way tie for ninth place in the conference with 67 points. They, the LA Kings and the Predators are all one point behind the 8th place San Jose Sharks who sit in the 2nd wild card spot.
The Sharks have at least a single game in-hand on all three pursuers.
If Nashville misses the playoffs by a point or in a tie-break, they’ll look back to the two goals they gave up to the Canucks in the final 4:05 of the third period at Rogers Arena.
Seattle at this point needs all the help it can get.
Earlier Kraken:
— Seattle Kraken; What The Hell Are They Doing??
