Penguins Pounce Early, Kraken Fall Short Despite Flashes from Fourth Line
The Seattle Kraken came into Monday’s matinee against the Pittsburgh Penguins hoping to build on their previous overtime win from November. Instead, they found themselves in a familiar - and frustrating - position: chasing the game early and ultimately falling short. Despite a spirited comeback attempt and some standout moments from the bottom six, Seattle dropped this one 6-3, splitting the season series with Pittsburgh.
Another Early Hole - and Another Shorthanded Gut Punch
It took just seven minutes for the Penguins to carve out a two-goal cushion, putting the Kraken on their heels from the jump. But what really stung - and what’s becoming a troubling trend - was yet another shorthanded goal allowed.
This marks the third straight game the Kraken have given one up while on the power play. This time, it came after Brett Kulak was sent off for hooking.
As Seattle tried to set up in the offensive zone, a miscue turned into a break the other way. Jordan Eberle’s pass attempt was disrupted by Connor Dewar, who stripped the puck and took off.
Vince Dunn gave chase, but Dewar had the edge and beat Joey Daccord clean.
For a team ranked ninth in the league with the man advantage - still sitting at a respectable 23.4% - giving up three shorthanded goals in as many games is a red flag. It’s not just about the goals themselves; it’s the momentum swing they create. Instead of tilting the ice in their favor, Seattle’s power play has been putting them in deeper holes.
Yes, Eeli Tolvanen did get one back with a power-play goal in the third, but the damage had already been done. If the Kraken want to stay in the playoff conversation, they can’t keep letting their own power plays become scoring opportunities for the other team.
Fourth Line Lights a Spark
Despite the early deficit, Seattle showed some fight. Late in the first period, with just under four minutes to go, the fourth line got things rolling.
After a neutral zone pass from Ryan Lindgren, Ben Meyers dumped the puck in. Stuart Skinner tried to clear it, but Ryan Winterton and Jaden Schwartz battled along the boards to keep it alive.
Schwartz found Meyers in the circle, and his shot rang off the crossbar and in - a much-needed jolt for the home crowd.
Midway through the second, the same trio was buzzing again. This time, Ryker Evans fed Meyers in front, and while Skinner made the initial stop, Winterton was right there for the rebound. He dropped it back to Lindgren, who buried the equalizer.
That’s two goals with all three of those guys involved - Meyers, Winterton, and Schwartz. For a fourth line, that’s not just solid production; it’s game-changing.
Schwartz, a veteran presence, may have been bumped down in the lineup, but with the way this line clicked, it didn’t feel like a demotion. And the young duo of Meyers and Winterton?
They’re making a strong case for more minutes. Don’t be surprised if we start seeing them get looks in the top six soon.
They’ve earned it.
Penguins Take Control in the Third
The comeback didn’t last long. Just two minutes into the third, Pittsburgh was back up by two. Tolvanen’s power-play tally gave Seattle a flicker of hope, but the Penguins slammed the door shut with two more unanswered goals.
By the final horn, the scoreboard told the story: 6-3, Penguins.
Head coach Lane Lambert didn’t sugarcoat it postgame: “We’re making mistakes that are going in the back of our net, and we gotta correct those mistakes.” Simple, honest, and accurate.
For the second straight game, the Kraken gave up six goals. They were outshot, outskated, and out-executed.
Homestand Starts on the Wrong Foot
This game marked the start of a six-game homestand for Seattle - and starting it with a loss is never ideal. The good news?
There were some bright spots. The fourth line brought energy and production.
The power play, while still giving up shorthanded goals, did find the back of the net. But the defensive lapses and slow starts are becoming a pattern.
Seattle has a chance to rebound quickly. They’re back on the ice Wednesday, and with five more games at home, there’s still time to turn this stretch into a positive. But it’s going to take cleaner execution, sharper special teams, and fewer self-inflicted wounds.
The Kraken know what’s going wrong. Now it’s about fixing it - fast.