Kraken's Shootout Nightmare: Buffalo Ends Seattle's Hot Streak in Brutal Fashion
The Kraken flew into Buffalo on Saturday night hoping to ride the momentum from a 4-3 overtime win in Tampa Bay just two nights earlier. Instead, they got absolutely gut punched in a 3-2 shootout loss that nobody saw coming. Tage Thompson and Jack Quinn both scored in the shootout to seal the deal for the Sabres, and just like that, Seattle's brief run of success came crashing down.
The Regulation Roller Coaster
This was a game that went back and forth, and it shouldn't have come down to a shootout in the first place. Chandler Stephenson got Seattle rolling early, forcing a turnover at the blue line and burying the puck from the left slot in the first period to give the Kraken a 1-0 lead. Things were looking good.
Then Bobby McMann, who has been absolutely electric since arriving from Toronto, made it 2-0 on a breakaway. That's now seven goals and 13 points in just seven games for McMann since the trade. The Sabres looked finished.
But Buffalo isn't 45-21-8 for nothing. Rasmus Dahlin scored on the power play with 4:05 left in the second to cut it to 2-1, and then Peyton Krebs forced overtime with 8:21 remaining in the third period when he buried it in the right circle. Suddenly the Kraken were staring at a point they didn't deserve to let slip away.
The Shootout Heartbreak
Neither team could finish it in overtime, so they went to the shootout. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was lights out for Buffalo, stopping both Kraken attempts in the shootout while making 32 saves overall. Thompson and Quinn finished the job, and there was nothing Philipp Grubauer could do about it even though he played well with 34 stops.
The loss drops Seattle to 32-29-11 on the season and is the fifth defeat in the past six games. We came to Buffalo looking to build on Thursday's win, and instead we left empty-handed in the most painful way possible. The Sabres stay two points ahead of Tampa Bay in the Atlantic Division with this win.
What's Next
The Kraken head to Edmonton on Tuesday night looking to bounce back and stop the bleeding. This losing stretch is unacceptable, and we need to see a response immediately.
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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.