Four-Game Skid Has Kraken Desperate Against Red Hot Lightning
The Seattle Kraken are heading to Tampa Bay on Thursday night looking to snap a brutal four-game losing streak, but they're running into one of the hottest teams in the league. The Lightning are absolutely rolling, and the Kraken need to find answers fast if they want to stay competitive in the playoff race.
The Matchup Nobody Wants Right Now
Seattle sits at 31-29-10 overall and 14-15-5 on the road, currently fifth in the Pacific Division with 72 points. Tampa Bay? They're a different beast entirely. The Lightning are 44-21-5 and sitting second in the Atlantic Division with 93 points. They've been nearly unbeatable at home with a 21-12-0 record, and here's the scary part: they're 38-7-1 when they score three or more goals.
These teams just played each other on March 17, and Tampa Bay dominated in a 6-2 win. Nikita Kucherov had an absolute field day with three goals in that game alone. He's got 40 goals and 80 assists on the season. This is not a team you want to face when you're struggling.
The Kraken's Offensive Collapse
Here's what's killing Seattle right now: over their last 10 games, the Kraken are just 2-7-1. That's a disaster. They're averaging only 2.9 goals per game while giving up 3.7. Compare that to Tampa, which is 6-3-1 in that same stretch with 4.6 goals for and 3.1 against. The Kraken do have a bright spot: Vince Dunn has been solid with 11 goals and 30 assists on the season, and Bobby McMann has scored five goals with two assists over the past 10 games.
The silver lining? Seattle has gone 29-7-4 when scoring three or more goals. If they can find the back of the net, they have a shot. But that's been the problem lately.
Injury Troubles on Both Sides
The Kraken are dealing with some roster issues heading south. Jaden Schwartz is out with a face injury, Jared McCann is day to day with a lower body issue, and Ryan Winterton is out with illness. It's not ideal when you're trying to end a skid. Tampa Bay also has injury concerns with Max Crozier out with an abdomen injury, Dominic James out with a leg issue, and Victor Hedman day to day with illness.
Thursday's puck drops at 7 p.m. EDT in Tampa. The Kraken need this one badly.
🐦 What fans are saying on X
See the latest reactions and highlights from Seattle fans about Tampa Bay.
View X conversation →🔮 Trade Seattle Sports on Kalshi
Did you know you can trade on Seattle sports outcomes on Kalshi, the only federally regulated prediction market in the US? Kalshi is available in Washington state. Bet on Seahawks games, Mariners season outcomes, Kraken playoff runs, and more. No sportsbook account needed.
💰 Limited offer: Get a FREE $10 when you sign up!
👉 Sign up at Kalshi.com and use promo code SEATTLEONTAP to claim your free $10.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.