McMann Keeps Scoring, But Kraken Can't Stop the Bleeding in Loss to Lightning
Bobby McMann scored again Tuesday night at Climate Pledge Arena, but it wasn't nearly enough. The Seattle Kraken spotted Tampa Bay a three-goal lead early, clawed back into it, then watched the Lightning pull away for a 6-2 victory. It's the kind of loss that stings when you're sitting right on the playoff cutoff and every win matters.
McMann's Streak Continues, But Defense Falls Apart
Here's the bright spot: McMann has now scored in every single game since the Kraken acquired him at the trade deadline from Toronto. Four goals and six points in three games. That's the kind of production you dream about when you make a deadline move.
McMann's goal came in the first period after Matty Beniers made a diving play to keep the puck in the offensive zone. Falling to the ice, Beniers somehow tapped it directly to his linemate, and McMann whipped a shot into the top-right corner to cut Tampa Bay's lead to 3-1. Beniers still holds the franchise record with a five-game goal streak from January 3-10, 2023.
But here's the problem: the Kraken's defense looked lost. Three goals in the first period is brutal against any team, let alone Tampa Bay. Nikita Kucherov scored twice early, including one where he practically waltzed in after Adam Larsson got tangled up defending the net. Anthony Cirelli added another, and by the time Jared McCann answered back in the second, the damage was done.
Mistakes Piled Up Fast
Coach Lane Lambert didn't mince words after the game. "For the most part, it was a fairly even game," he said. "Our mistakes were really catastrophic. Obviously some really, really poor decisions."
Forward Ben Meyers echoed that frustration: "Just kind of gave them the first three goals. Got behind against a really good team."
The breakdowns were stunning. One sequence saw Shane Wright get called for holding when he went to welcome back Yanni Gourde, the former Kraken captain traded to Tampa last year. That penalty stretched into a longer advantage when Ryker Evans tripped Brandon Hagel, extending the man advantage. Wright did block a sure goal during that kill, but the damage was already mounting.
Goaltender Philipp Grubauer made 19 saves, but he was hanging out to dry. Kucherov's empty netter sealed it, giving the Lightning their eighth straight result without a loss against Seattle (8-0-1 all-time). Tampa Bay has never lost a game in the Emerald City.
Next Up
The Kraken need to find their defensive identity fast. Being down three goals in the first period is unacceptable when playoff positioning is this tight. McMann's scoring streak is real, but the whole team has to tighten up around the net.
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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.