Kraken Stumble in Utah After Late Surge Falls Short
The Seattle Kraken came out swinging on Saturday night at the Delta Center, striking early and looking like a team ready to control the pace. But despite a strong start and a gutsy second-period comeback, the Utah Mammoth had the final word, scoring three unanswered in the third to hand Seattle a 6-3 loss.
Let’s break it down.
Eberle Sets the Tone Early
It took less than two minutes for the Kraken to get on the board, and it all started with some gritty work around the net. Jordan Eberle, who’s been a steady offensive presence all season, finished off a chaotic sequence in front of Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka.
After a couple of initial saves, Kaapo Kakko worked the puck behind the net and found Eberle on the far side. Eberle didn’t miss, roofing it top corner for his 17th of the season.
That goal tied him with Matty Beniers for the team lead in points at 31-a testament to the chemistry those two have built. Eberle’s early jump was exactly what you want from your captain: drive the play, set the tone, and spark the bench. Unfortunately for Seattle, that spark didn’t last.
Shorthanded Slip-Up Swings Momentum
Then came the moment that flipped the script. Just two minutes after Eberle’s opener, Seattle went on the power play-an area where they’ve been among the league’s best this season. But instead of extending the lead, they gave one up.
Former Kraken forward Brandon Tanev was in the box for Utah, but it was the Mammoth who capitalized. Lawson Crouse sold the shot, pulling Philipp Grubauer to the post, then slid it across to Kevin Stenlund who buried it into the open net. That’s two games in a row now where the Kraken have been burned short-handed, and it’s starting to sting.
Seattle came into the night with the seventh-best power play in the league. After this one, they drop to ninth-not catastrophic, but it’s a trend they can’t afford to continue. Giving up momentum-swinging goals like that, especially when you’re supposed to be on the attack, is a recipe for frustration.
Beniers Breathes Life Into the Comeback
The second period started rough. Utah netted two quick goals, putting Seattle in a 3-1 hole. But give the Kraken credit-they didn’t roll over.
With five minutes left in the middle frame, the Kraken pushed back. Rookie Berkly Catton got things going with a shot that missed wide, but he chased it down and found Vince Dunn at the point.
Dunn’s slap shot was turned away, but both Beniers and Eberle crashed the crease. Beniers got the stick on it and cut the deficit to one.
Just two minutes later, Chandler Stephenson tied it up, and suddenly, Seattle had life. They went into the third period knotted at 3-3, with all the momentum on their side.
But that’s where the wheels came off.
Third Period Collapse
The final frame was all Utah. The Mammoth outshot Seattle 11-2 in the third and took full control of the game. Three unanswered goals later, the Kraken were headed back to the locker room with a 6-3 loss and more questions than answers.
Seattle’s inability to generate offense in the third was the story. For a team that had clawed its way back, the lack of push in the final 20 minutes was tough to watch. Whether it was fatigue from the road trip or just a failure to adjust, the Kraken couldn’t match Utah’s pace down the stretch.
Looking Ahead: Back to the Deep
Now, the Kraken head home after a five-game road trip and get ready for a six-game homestand, starting Monday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s a crucial stretch-not just for the standings, but for the team’s confidence.
They’ll see the Mammoth one more time this season, on April 2 in Seattle. You can bet that rematch is already circled on the calendar.
For now, the focus shifts to regrouping, tightening up the special teams, and finding that third-period energy that’s been missing. Because if the Kraken want to stay in the playoff conversation, they’ll need more than just flashes of brilliance-they’ll need a full 60 minutes.