The Kraken Have One Shot to Break the Lightning Curse, and It Starts Tomorrow
The Seattle Kraken are heading to Tampa Bay on Thursday afternoon in what might be their biggest game of the season so far, and here's the thing: they've never beaten the Lightning in regulation. Ever. In franchise history. One win total, and it came in overtime way back in October 2023 when Jared McCann scored the OT winner. Yep, just one win in seven tries lifetime (1-6-1). But after nearly pulling off another wild comeback against Florida on Tuesday, the Kraken have something they haven't had in a while: momentum. They just need to not waste it.
The Comeback That Wasn't Enough
Look, what the Kraken did against the Panthers deserves credit. Down 4-1 with 5:43 left in regulation, they scratched and clawed their way back to make it a game. They went into a shootout and lost 5-4, dropping a crucial standings point in the playoff race. It was gutsy. It was close. It was also not nearly enough when you're sitting 31-29-5 with a dozen games left to play and the margin for error is basically nonexistent.
The real problem? The Kraken still haven't figured out how to score early. Against Florida, they had decent looks in the first two periods but couldn't find the back of the net. Same story in Columbus, where the Blue Jackets jumped out to a 3-0 lead and the Kraken spent the whole night chasing. This team has won zero games this season when trailing by three or more goals. They've won only three games when down by two. That's the stat that should keep everyone up at night.
Who They're Facing and What's at Stake
The Lightning are not some pushover opponent right now. Tampa Bay is 44-21-5 and has won four of their last five, including a big win over the Minnesota Wild. They're battling Buffalo neck and neck for the Atlantic Division. And they have Nikita Kucherov, who is leading the entire NHL with 120 points and 40 goals. When the Lightning stomped the Kraken 6-2 at Climate Pledge Arena just last week, Kucherov had a hat trick and five points.
The good news? Lightning captain Victor Hedman is taking a leave of absence for personal reasons and won't be in the lineup. But Brandon Hagel (69 points) and Anthony Cirelli (48 points) are still there and they tore the Kraken apart last week.
For Seattle, Oscar Fisker Molgaard was recalled from the AHL to slot in on the fourth line after Jani Nyman was sent down. The team is back to full strength and ready to roll.
Why This Matters Right Now
Snagging two points in Tampa Bay would be a shock to everyone, especially given the Kraken's history there. But that near comeback against Florida proved this team can still fight. The question is whether they can channel that late-game fire into early-game execution. Score first. Stay ahead. Don't chase. Do that, and maybe this curse finally gets broken.
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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.