By Charles Hamaker

Seattle, WA – If you like extra hockey and inconsistent levels of effort, then you will really enjoy the 2023-24 Seattle Kraken. At least, those are the sort of characteristics that this year's group has displayed as we’re 20 games into the season and they still fail to string together victories. The Kraken allowed a poor quick two goals in the first period, bounced back to take a lead in the middle frame, but ultimately failing to battle back against the Flames push in the third saw Calgary eventually score the game winner in overtime. They do get a standings point out of tonight’s effort, but the failure to put together complete efforts on at least a semi-consistent basis is frustrating fans and members of the organization alike. With somewhat of a “fortunate” schedule coming up for Seattle, the opportunity to start banking two points each game is there, but they must remain focused and play the entirety of the game to do so.

Warmup and pre-game sights ahead of the Seattle Kraken loss to the Calgary Flames at Climate Pledge Arena on November 20th, 2023. (Photos by Liz Wolter)

Sleepy start in Seattle

A trend for this Seattle Kraken team early on into this season, at least a positive one, has been the early push/energy that will be brought through the first 20 minutes of the game. It doesn’t always necessarily mean that they’ll score a ton of goals, but the Kraken have shown great energy and offensive pressure in the first period of games, but not tonight. Calgary got this game going with a goal that came just a minute and 16 seconds into the game, as the Flames had gotten the puck and pinned Seattle into their own defensive zone, ultimately capitalizing with a goal from Elias Lindholm as goaltender Philipp Grubauer was somewhat late to react on his blocker side. A poor defensive start for the Kraken to allow the Flames to bully them in their own zone, and not the best start for Grubauer tracking the puck to begin this game, his third straight start following the shootout win over the Islanders and the tough road victory over Vancouver.

The first period of this game saw three goals, but not in favor of the Seattle Kraken, as Calgary got two on the board through the first twenty minutes. (Photos by Liz Wolter)

The Kraken were able to answer with a goal of their own, showing a little bit of that first period flash, just shortly after a potential second Calgary goal had been disallowed as Martin Pospisil ran into Philipp Grubauer and knocked him over. Seattle had just been getting their first few sorts of shots on Flames netminder Dan Vladar, and they were finally able to break through as Vince Dunn continues his strong start to the 2023-24 campaign. After a few attempts from the blue line, Dunner was able to get a big blast past Vladar, with a screen out in front, on his glove side to tie this game up and get Seattle on the board. That tie would be short lived, as the Flames regained their lead just under three minutes later. With some traffic in front, his own skaters and Flames skaters, Grubauer was unable to stop Jonathan Huberdeau’s rip from just within the blue line to get Calgary’s second of the game. A poor first period defensively, failing to track the puck well from Grubauer, and only a handful of good shots resulted in the Kraken trailing early.

Seattle Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord took the net to begin the second period and did an admirable job in relief of Philipp Grubauer. (Photos by Liz Wolter)

A goalie change, and a Kraken jolt of energy

To begin the second period, starting Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer was not on the ice in net, rather Joey Daccord was there with the former not being visible on the net. Considering the fact that Grubauer wasn’t tracking the puck well in that period, and the information that we got later from head coach Dave Hakstol regarding Grubauer not being 100%, it makes sense that the pull was made to get Daccord in net.

“I don’t have any update on where he’s at or what his condition is. We’ll have more tomorrow morning.”

— Dave Hakstol, Seattle Kraken head coach, on the status of goaltender Philipp Grubauer.

Seattle looked to be building some momentum early into that middle frame when they got their first penalty of the contest just a tick under six minutes in, but the man advantage looked disjointed and largely broken from the Kraken. Despite the failure to execute with the man up, Seattle continued to push early on and eventually found a way to break the ice. As the puck cycled through, Vince Dunn attempted to launch another puck on net from the blue line, but it was blocked by a Flames skater. That block slid right to Jordan Eberle in the middle of the slot, who would send a back hand towards net that leaked through Vladar’s five-hole slowly to tie this game up yet again. The Kraken push had found substance, and they were going to desperately need that if they were going to perform accordingly against an inferior opponent. Seattle continued to send pucks on net against Vladar and Calgary, and they got a second goal from that in this period a little over two minutes after their first of the frame. Adam Larsson launched a puck in towards Jared McCann who was out in front of the net, who used the middle of his stick for a redirect that had some good fortune and got past Vladar to give the Kraken their first lead of this game. Unfortunately, it was the only lead they’d take tonight.

The Seattle Kraken found some semblance of rhythm in the second period, scoring twice to take the lead over the Calgary Flames. (Photos by Liz Wolter)

Calgary changes the pace in their favor, and they get the spoils

After a high flying, grinding second period that saw Seattle get to the net and send shots on goal, things were nearly the polar opposite for the home side in the second. The Kraken only sent three shots on net against Vladar, and the Flames dominated the pace in this frame. Calgary pushed and pushed for the game tying goal, and Seattle was failing at making the proper attempt to add on to their lead and even get the dreaded two goal lead that they’ve struggled mightily to hold on to so far this season. Things finally broke through for the Flames a little under 16 minutes into the third period on a power play. Just off a failed power play, Calgary had won a faceoff in the Seattle zone and sent it back out to known Kraken killer Noah Hanifin on the blue line. Hanifin noticed that Andrew Mangiapane was net front with little coverage directly on him, and the puck was sent on net. The puck had hit Mangiapane, landed right in front of him in the crease as Daccord searched for it, and a light push with his stick sent the tying goal in.

Seattle was unable to get a late game winner in the four minutes that followed the Flames game tying goal, and largely had to defend against Calgary’s continued push in that frame to send this game to overtime and at least give both teams one point in the standings. Once overtime started and the Kraken survived an early attempt from the Flames, Seattle was able to play overtime how they have liked to this season: continue possession of the puck and ensure that the shot or look you get is a good one, making clear not to just waste opportunities at will. It didn’t matter much as they only got one shot on goal in the five-minute overtime period, and Calgary took advantage. Flames defenseman Ramus Andersson weaved his way through the neutral zone after receiving a pass, working his way around the goal where Joey Daccord had to make a sprawling attempt to prevent a wraparound. Daccord was successful in doing so, but the rebound from that save bounced right back out to Andersson, who got another shot off before Daccord could recover and thus the game winner had been scored.

It’s hard to look at the positives, but they do exist

I get it, you don’t want to hear the positives right now. It’s another frustrating loss by a team that found its life in the second period but went dead silent in the third and couldn’t do much of anything in overtime despite having possession of the puck for an extended period of time. They put up a measly three shots in the final frame of this game and never got a truly strong shot on net in the overtime period. They took penalties at inopportune times and the penalty kill couldn’t bail them out. They wasted another strong goaltender performance, as Joey Daccord came in to replace an injured(?) Philipp Grubauer. There’s a lot to be upset about, but just like the team's other losses so far in this 20-game period to begin the season, there are positives to look at. I still very much believe that this team just needs to break through the dam, and they haven’t fully done that. They’ve had games where they’ve stuck their head through it but haven’t gotten totally through. Seeing Vince Dunn continue his point production, Jordan Eberle and Jared McCann get greasy goals out in front, Joey Daccord continuing to show that he belongs at the NHL level, and largely winning the faceoff battle for most of this game show good signs. The kraken are just still failing at doing the right amount of those good things to result in consistent winning efforts.

If you need the copium, you have a few things to look at. The Seattle Kraken hold a playoff spot, the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. They’ve recorded at least a point in their last four games played, including that impressive victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Matty Beniers is showing much more encouraging signs offensively than he was earlier in the season. Vince Dunn is continuing some strong point production after some (foolishly) worried that he’d drop off after his big extension. The team is getting better at getting to the net to get the harder working goals. Joey Daccord continues to look strong as a backup goaltender after there may have been concern if he could perform at a consistent rate at the NHL level. Will Borgen continues to make smart plays and has solidified himself as a top-four defenseman on this team. There are positives coming from this team. Obviously the negative of losses outweigh those because moral victories don’t count in the standings, but it truly does feel to me as though it’s coming for this Kraken team. They just need to find a way to smash through that dam.

The Calgary Flames celebrate Rasmus Andersson’s game winning goal in overtime against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on November 21st, 2023. (Photos by Liz Wolter)

Quick notes

Attendance tonight at Climate Pledge Arena for the Seattle Kraken overtime loss to the Calgary Flames was 17,151
Vince Dunn recorded his fourth multi-point game of the season with a goal and an assist tonight, which gives him 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in his last 10 games.
With two points tonight, Dunn now has 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in nine games at Climate Pledge Arena this year.

Jordan Eberle scored a goal to extend his point streak to five games, totaling seven points (two goals, five assists) during that span.
It is his first five-game point streak since he had a point in seven consecutive games from Nov. 4 to 19, 2021.
Yanni Gourde's 11 face off wins tonight were tied for the fifth-most he has recorded in a single game in his career.
Will Borgen recorded 20:34 of ice time tonight, the second-highest mark of his career. He previously set a career best with 20:47 of ice time on April 10, 2023, against the Arizona Coyotes.
The Kraken have now recorded at least a point in each of the last four games they have played.
With a point from tonight’s overtime loss, the Seattle Kraken currently occupy the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference behind the St. Louis Blues.
A seven-game Monday saw four teams post third-period comeback wins, tied for the most in a single day this season (also 4 on Oct. 24, Oct. 30 & Nov. 18).

What’s next?

Following tonight’s overtime loss to the Calgary Flames, the Seattle Kraken will continue a three-game homestand on Wednesday, November 22nd when they host the San Jose Sharks. Puck drop for the third of four straight Pacific Division Rivalry games for the Kraken will take place at 7PM PST against those Sharks, being broadcast locally on Root Sports and nationally on ESPN+. San Jose is coming into this game with the lowest point total in the entirety of the NHL but did win their game before last when they manhandled the St. Louis Blues by a score of 5-1. The Kraken, while having recorded at least a point in each of the last four games that they’ve played, continue to struggle when it comes to putting together that complete effort and will look to do so against the Sharks.

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