Ten Days Left and the Kraken's Playoff Hopes Are Slipping Away

There are only 10 days left in the 2025-26 NHL regular season, and the math is getting brutal. Seven teams have clinched a playoff berth. Five have been mathematically eliminated. The other 20, including the Seattle Kraken, are still fighting for their postseason lives, and the race for playoff seeding is wide open. Tuesday's 11-game slate had some of the biggest implications of the stretch run, and if you watched the Kraken take on Winnipeg on Monday night, you already know how things went: not great. The Jets rolled, 6-2, over Seattle, and every game from here on out matters exponentially more.

The Kraken's Path Gets Tighter

The loss to Winnipeg stings because there's nowhere to hide when you're this deep into the season. The Kraken are one of 20 teams whose playoff fate remains unresolved, and with only 10 days remaining, every regulation loss is a dagger. The Eastern and Western Conference races are wide open, with teams jockeying for wild card spots and divisional positioning. Seattle knows exactly what they're up against: win games in regulation, or watch the playoffs slip away.

Tuesday's Marquee Matchups Set the Tone

Tuesday brought 11 games to the NHL calendar, and six of them had serious postseason ramifications. The Columbus Blue Jackets faced Detroit at 7 p.m. ET, with both teams just two points behind the Senators for the final Eastern Conference wild card slot. In the West, the Nashville Predators battled the Anaheim Ducks at 10 p.m. ET. Nashville was a point behind Los Angeles with 82 points and 26 regulation wins through 77 games, while San Jose sat at 81 points with 25 regulation wins through 76 games, all three teams fighting for the second wild card. The Ducks, meanwhile, were still in contention for the Pacific Division title, tied with Edmonton in points but trailing in regulation wins with fewer than six games remaining.

Edmonton hosted Utah at 9:30 p.m. ET, looking to wrap up the division and secure a first-round matchup against the Mammoth, who are poised to bring postseason hockey to the Beehive State for the first time. Philadelphia visited New Jersey at 7 p.m. ET in another Metro Division clash with serious implications.

For the Kraken, the focus now shifts to their next opportunity to right the ship. With only 10 days left, Seattle can't afford another night like Monday.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.