Kraken Collapse Late Again, Fall Flat Ahead of MLK Day Matinee
There’s no sugarcoating this one - the Kraken let another winnable game slip right through their gloves. And while goaltender Philipp Grubauer will wear some of the heat, this one’s on the skaters in front of him just as much, if not more.
Let’s break it down.
Defensive Disarray
From the opening puck drop, the Kraken looked out of sorts in their own end. Puck management was sloppy, defensive zone exits were a mess, and the net-front coverage?
Practically nonexistent. The Mammoth had free rein in high-danger areas, with or without the puck.
That’s a nightmare scenario for any goaltender - and especially tough on Grubauer, who was left high and dry far too often.
Head coach Lane Lambert had every right to be furious postgame. This wasn’t just a bad night - it was a breakdown of the very identity he’s trying to instill.
The Kraken did manage to claw their way back into the game at one point, but just like in previous outings, they let momentum slip away almost immediately. That kind of inconsistency simply can’t continue, especially with the Penguins coming into town for a Monday matinee.
Special Teams: A Mixed Bag
Let’s talk special teams. The penalty kill did its job - no goals allowed while down a man, which is a bright spot.
But the power play continues to be a liability. Another short-handed goal allowed?
That stings. It negates any progress the PK unit is making and puts the team in a mental and tactical hole.
This Jekyll-and-Hyde performance from the special teams is becoming a trend, and not the good kind. If the Kraken want to turn this skid around, they’ll need to clean up the power play and stop giving away momentum with careless mistakes.
Grubauer: Left Out to Dry
Philipp Grubauer’s stat line - a .828 save percentage - doesn’t look great on paper. And yes, he did revert to a couple of old habits that have haunted him in the past. But let’s be clear: he was abandoned by his defense for long stretches of this game.
When your skaters are giving up prime scoring chances and failing to clear the crease, there’s only so much a goaltender can do. Grubauer has been solid more often than not this season, but nights like this make it hard to tell.
Silver Linings
There were a few moments worth highlighting:
- Jordan Eberle opened the scoring with a smooth finish from the slot, thanks to some sharp passing from Kaapo Kakko and Matty Beniers. Eberle was left untouched in a prime shooting area - a rare lapse from the Mammoth that the Kraken actually capitalized on.
- Speaking of Beniers, he notched his 10th goal of the season with a gritty net-front effort. He refused to give up on the play and was rewarded with a two-point night.
- Chandler Stephenson added a highlight-reel moment, freezing Karel Vejmelka on a breakaway after a slick setup from Frederic Gaudreau.
- And again, the penalty kill deserves credit. It did its job. It’s just the other half of the special teams equation that continues to let the team down.
Looking Ahead
The Kraken have now dropped five of their last six. That’s a trend that needs to stop - fast.
They’ll get a chance to reset at home with a 2 p.m. puck drop on MLK Day against the Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s a matinee matchup that could serve as a turning point, but only if Seattle tightens up defensively and starts playing a full 60 minutes.
Because if they don’t, this slide could get a lot worse before it gets better.