Seattle: With the Seattle Kraken attempting not to quickly ruin their fresh lease on life, an emotional week of playing themselves back into contention and praying their front office kept them there came to a close on Friday night.
The fact that no more players were moved earlier in the day was a statement of confidence in them, but their chances of making the Western Conference playoffs are so slim that any one outcome might turn excitement into despair. And things did certainly become worse by nightfall, as the Kraken lost two crucial points that would have put them within four points of the last conference playoff place at Climate Pledge Arena in a 3-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.
With 12:45 remaining in regulation, Mark Scheifele ended a scoreless stalemate following the Kraken’s unsuccessful effort at clearing. Vladislav Namestnikov received the ball, and he passed it to an unclothed Scheifele in front of Joey Daccord, the goalie for the Krakens. Scheifele delayed just long enough for Daccord to make a save, then he circled around and tucked it home.
After a few of Jets rebound opportunities, Adam Lowry scored a second goal for Winnipeg just over three minutes later by forcing the ball past Daccord. In the last minute, Nikolaj Ehlers scored an empty-net goal after the Kraken substituted an additional attacker for Daccord, who finished the game with 29 saves.
With a victory against Detroit on Saturday, the Vegas Golden Knights may currently lead the Kraken by eight points as a result of Friday’s results. To get Seattle’s game back on track ahead of a visit to Climate Pledge Arena on Tuesday, the Kraken will instead need to hope that Vegas, which has lost four straight and seven of eight overall—despite being stocked up at the trade deadline—loses again to the Red Wings.
In their most recent match, which took place on January 1 in the outdoor Winter Classic at T-Mobile Park, the Kraken defeated the Golden Knights 3-0.
The Kraken have gained 10 points on Vegas over the past 11 games. Daccord battled Jets backup goalkeeper Laurent Brossoit to a scoreless standstill for about two and a half minutes on Friday, showing his typical sharp self.
Though Tomas Tatar’s wrist shot off a feed from Matty Beniers in the second period went off the hoop, and the Kraken nearly missed key in-close rebounds in the minutes that followed, both teams did a goodJaden Schwartz  job of limiting opportunities primarily to the perimeter.
Tatar then just missed a scoring opportunity in the third period on a backhand from the slot that sailed just short of the post. Tatar was one of the prospective Kraken free agents who the organization chose not to trade. About 11 minutes into the first period, the Kraken lost to an unidentified upper-body injury. As a result, they were forced to play the remainder of the game without their greatest forward, who usually creates net front opportunities. Winnipeg allows the second-fewest goals per game against, making them one of the most stingiest NHL clubs. Following a victory over Calgary the night before, the four goals the Kraken scored against them in a road game on Tuesday stood out against a Jets team that had been
In this game, the Jets tightened up a lot, allowing the Kraken to only muster four shots in the second quarter and just twelve in the first two combined. The Kraken began the day with the news that veteran winger Jordan Eberle would not be dealt to the Edmonton Oilers or other teams interested in him; instead, he had agreed to a two-year, $9.5 million contract extension. After implying later in the day that the team’s improved postseason standing may have changed some of his earlier deadline intentions, general manager Ron Francis of the Kraken made a single transaction on Wednesday, sending Alex Wennberg to the New York Rangers. Before Tatar had the opportunity to hit the post, Eberle put in a lot of work.
Shortly after Winnipeg’s first goal, Andre Burakovsky had a half breakaway along the right side, giving the Kraken an opportunity to equalize the game. Burakovsky was given a two-minute minor penalty for tripping Scheifele, but not before he could take a shot. However, the Kraken were unable to score on the subsequent penalty play, and a few minutes later, Lowry—the son of Kraken assistant coach Dave Lowry—scored to increase Winnipeg’s advantage.
