Kraken's Epic Comeback Falls Short in Shootout as Maurice Hits 2,000 Games
The Kraken came roaring back from down 4-1 late in the third period, tying it up in a furious 2:21 span, but the Florida Panthers had one more answer. Seattle fell 5-4 in a shootout at Amerant Bank Arena on Tuesday night, losing a heartbreaker that felt like a win until the final buzzer.
This game was all about Paul Maurice's milestone moment. The Panthers coach reached his 2,000th NHL game, becoming only the second coach in League history to hit that mark. Only Scotty Bowman, who coached 2,141 games, sits ahead of him. Maurice got honored during a timeout in the first period and clearly appreciated the moment. "That was very nice. This place has been great, the fans have been great here, and I really appreciate the acknowledgement from the Florida Panthers and the fans," he said after the game.
The Kraken Storm Back but Can't Close It Out
The Panthers looked like they had this one locked up when Noah Gregor extended Florida's lead to 4-1 at 12:21 of the third period on a rush play. But then the Kraken flipped a switch. Jordan Eberle, Ryker Evans, Matty Beniers, and Bobby McMann all found the back of the net in that lightning fast stretch, forcing overtime and then the shootout. Joey Daccord was solid between the pipes with 21 saves, but he couldn't stop all three Panthers attempts in the shootout.
Sergei Bobrovsky was the difference maker for Florida, making 22 saves and shutting down every single Kraken chance in the shootout. Eberle had a goal and an assist for Seattle in the loss, showing the fight that Lane Lambert's squad brought to the third period. "I thought our comeback and our resolve was really good. So, pretty happy with that," Lambert said. "We're just a little bit away from execution."
Playoff Picture Gets Tighter for Seattle
The loss stings because the Kraken are now sitting at 31-29-10 and have lost four straight (0-3-1). They're five points back of the Nashville Predators for the second wild card spot in the Western Conference. This squad had beaten Florida 6-2 just over a week ago on March 15, so the turnaround here is rough. Eight of the past 10 games have gone sideways for Seattle (2-7-1), and they need to find their game fast if they want to stay in this playoff hunt.
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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.