The Kraken came out swinging in Seattle, leaving the Panthers searching for answers in a commanding 6-1 victory. Florida, kicking off their four-game western road trip, struggled to find their rhythm against a relentless Seattle squad.
Right from the get-go, the Kraken set the tone. Freddy Gaudreau's initial shot was blocked but quickly recovered, leading to a deflected goal by Ryan Winterton off Ben Meyers. This early strike at 5:28 in the first period put Seattle on the board with a 1-0 lead.
Seattle wasn't done. Just six minutes later, Berkly Catton capitalized on a rebound after Daniil Tarasov made a pair of impressive saves.
But Florida wasn't going down quietly. Immediately after Catton’s goal, Vinnie Hinostroza, set up by a slick pass from Luke Kunin, answered back just 15 seconds later, narrowing the gap to 2-1.
However, the Kraken were relentless. With less than two minutes left in the first, Meyers' shot hit the post and Winterton was there to knock it in, restoring Seattle's two-goal cushion.
The second period saw Kaapo Kakko extend the lead with a smooth forehand maneuver past a sprawling Tarasov, making it 4-1. The Kraken continued their dominance into the third, with Bobby McMann and Jamie Oleksiak each finding the net, stretching the lead to 6-1.
Eetu Luostarinen gave the Panthers a small consolation, scoring with just over a second left after a determined drive to the net.
The Panthers will look to regroup as they head to Vancouver, hoping to shake off this tough start to their road trip.