Kraken Storm Back from Three Goals Down but Can't Close the Deal in Shootout Heartbreak
The Kraken had every chance to steal this one. Down three goals with less than eight minutes left against Florida on Tuesday, Seattle clawed all the way back to tie it up, only to watch the Panthers walk away with a 5-4 shootout win. This one stings because they were right there, and they couldn't finish.
Matty Beniers got things rolling with a crucial goal, then Jordan Eberle and Bobby McMann scored on breakaways just 14 seconds apart. For a moment, you thought the Kraken had found their rhythm. But Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stood tall when it mattered most, stopping Eberle, McMann, and Freddy Gaudreau in the shootout before Vinnie Hinostroza sealed it for the two-time defending champs.
A Game They Should've Won
This was supposed to be an easy one. Seattle had just demolished Florida 6-2 at Climate Pledge Arena on March 15. The rematch on the road looked like a gift, especially considering the Kraken are in free fall. They'd lost three straight in regulation and dropped to four points behind Nashville for the second wild-card spot in the West. Walking away with just one point instead of two feels like a missed opportunity.
Coach Lane Lambert made some unconventional moves to spark the offense. With Jared McCann out with an injury for his second straight game, Lambert dressed seven defensemen instead of running four full forward lines and scratched AHL call-up Jani Nyman. Cale Fleury came back into the lineup for the first time in more than two weeks. It meant the forward combinations were constantly shifting, with Beniers playing 22:52, the most ice time among Kraken forwards.
Defensive Lapses in a Rough Night
The first period was sluggish. Only 3-2 shots on goal for Seattle at the 16-minute mark. The teams went to the locker room scoreless, but things fell apart fast after that. A 2-on-1 led to Nolan Foote's opening goal early in the game, with defenseman Ryker Evans unable to break up the pass that went under Joey Daccord's arm.
The Kraken didn't get on the board until 8:10 into the third period when Evans scored to cut it to 3-1. By then, the damage was done. Adam Larsson notched an assist on Beniers' goal while making history, appearing in his 1,000th NHL game and becoming only the 423rd player all-time and 23rd from Sweden to reach that mark.
Shootout Struggles Continue
Seattle's 1-5 shootout record this season tells the story. The Kraken are just 9-17 all-time in shootouts, and they couldn't get over the hump Tuesday. Eberle, the captain, went 0-for-5 in shootouts this season and missed again when the game was on the line.
With 12 games to play, the Kraken need to find their footing fast. They're alive in the playoff race only because the Pacific Division is a mess, but nights like this against a Panthers team that's already fallen out of contention are exactly the ones that matter most.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.