Kraken Must Stop Passing and Start Shooting if They Want to Save Their Playoff Life
The Kraken are in a dogfight. At 31-29-9, they're clawing their way through one of the tightest playoff races in franchise history, and frankly, they're making it harder on themselves than it needs to be. They head to Florida on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. to face a Panthers team that's basically already packing it in for the season. This is a chance to steal two points. This is a must-win moment. And if the last two games are any indication, the Kraken better figure out their shot selection fast.
Stop Passing, Start Firing
Head coach Lane Lambert didn't mince words after the loss in Columbus. The Kraken are getting to the net front, but then they're just standing there, looking at each other, instead of actually shooting the puck. In the final two periods against the Blue Jackets on Saturday, Seattle fired just 10 shots. Thursday's loss to Nashville? Only 13 shots in the same span. That's not how you win in March.
"When we did get it in their zone I thought there was more effort to get to the net," Lambert said after Columbus. "But our D have got to get pucks through. We have time when we can shoot it and then we don't. Now we've got guys standing in front of the net and we're not delivering it. So, somewhere the disconnect has to get connected fast."
The numbers back it up: the Kraken have scored two goals or fewer in nine of their last 14 games since the Winter Olympic break. That's not a recipe for playoff hockey.
This Is New Territory, and It Shows
Here's the thing about the Kraken: they're not used to playing meaningful hockey this late in the season. Three years ago in their only other playoff appearance, Seattle had things locked up with weeks to spare. Every other year? They were basically done by February. So playing for playoff positioning down to the final games feels unfamiliar. Sometimes they come out too tentative. Other times they're aggressive but can't sustain it for a full 60 minutes.
Lambert knows it. "We're a team that, as I said last week or maybe 10 days ago, we're not overly used to being in a position like this," he said. "And everything is a learning day."
With 13 games left and a four-point gap in the Pacific, the Kraken aren't out of it. Not by a mile. They got here by grinding and defying the odds. This playoff push should feel like a reward for that, not a burden.
Florida Is Ripe for the Picking
The good news: the Panthers are falling apart. Two-time Stanley Cup champs or not, Florida is 14 points out of the Eastern Conference wild card with 13 games left. They've lost three of their last four and are dealing with major injuries. Sam Reinhart, Brad Marchand, Anton Lundell, and several key defensemen are either out or not expected to play Tuesday.
Seattle beat them 6-1 just over a week ago. The Kraken are 6-2-1 all-time against Florida and have won three of four in this building. This is the moment to take advantage. This is the game that could spark something.
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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.