The Seattle Kraken needed a response. After a rough 1-4-2 stretch, head coach Lane Lambert made it clear: the team had to tighten up, especially defensively. And on Wednesday night, they did just that.
Behind 24 saves from Philipp Grubauer and a strong two-point night from Vince Dunn, Seattle snapped out of its funk with a 3-1 win over the New York Islanders at Climate Pledge Arena. It wasn’t always pretty - especially early on - but it was gritty, disciplined when it mattered most, and exactly the kind of win the Kraken needed to stay in the playoff hunt.
Let’s break it down.
First Period: A Parade to the Box, and a Power Play Lifeline
Seattle came into the game with the NHL’s lowest-ranked penalty kill, and it didn’t take long for that to show. Just 2:38 in, the Islanders capitalized on their first power play.
Anthony Duclair was left all alone in the left circle and made the Kraken pay, ripping a shot off the post and in for a 1-0 lead. That’s Duclair’s eighth goal in his last eight games - not the guy you want to leave unmarked.
It was also, remarkably, the fifth time this season the Kraken have allowed a goal on the first shot they’ve faced. That’s not a stat you want to be leading in.
Seattle’s penalty woes continued. Brendan Montour’s high stick gave New York a brief 5-on-3, but the Kraken penalty killers - and Grubauer - held firm. Then came a shift in momentum.
The Islanders got sloppy with a too-many-men penalty, and Simon Holmstrom followed with a trip. That gave Seattle its own 5-on-3, and they didn’t waste it. Jared McCann hit iron on the first look, but Vince Dunn’s shot found Matty Beniers’ stick for a slick deflection and a power-play goal that tied things at 1-1.
The fourth line, particularly Ryan Winterton, brought energy and physicality. Winterton led the team with five hits and helped create extended offensive-zone time with some crafty puck control.
Despite taking four penalties in the period, the Kraken escaped with a 1-1 tie - and maybe even a little momentum. Shots were 10-9 in Seattle’s favor, but the real story was the penalty kill stepping up when it needed to.
Second Period: Dunn Delivers, Islanders Doze Off
The second frame started slow, with more action after the whistles than during play. Ilya Sorokin stretched out during a TV timeout, Grubauer stayed near his bench, and the crowd held its breath when a puck sailed into the stands and struck a fan. Thankfully, she appeared to be okay, and Jared McCann made sure she got attention, tapping his stick on the glass to alert staff.
Then the Kraken went to work.
Ben Meyers hit the post, and Dunn missed just wide moments later. But on a long shift, Seattle cashed in.
Meyers to Winterton to Dunn - a beautiful passing sequence that ended with Dunn ripping a shot off the post and in for his 50th career goal as a Kraken. That gave Seattle a 2-1 lead at 13:37.
Then came a moment the Islanders will want back.
Believing icing had been called, New York eased up. But the officials ruled defenseman Scott Mayfield could’ve played the puck, so play continued.
Jaden Schwartz took advantage, digging the puck free and finding Kaapo Kakko in front. Kakko didn’t miss, burying a shot past Sorokin for a 3-1 lead.
The Islanders were stunned. And while the TNT panel later argued icing should’ve been called, the goal stood - and it was a costly lapse for New York.
Seattle killed off another penalty late in the period (Winterton for slashing), and Grubauer came up big again. After 40 minutes, Seattle led 3-1 and held a 22-20 edge in shots.
Third Period: Holding the Line
The Kraken came into the third with a two-goal cushion, but given their recent form, nothing felt safe. Early on, it nearly unraveled.
As a Kraken power play expired, Casey Cizikas broke free for a shorthanded chance. Grubauer had to make a sprawling save to keep Seattle from giving up a shorty for the fourth straight game. Chandler Stephenson was whistled for slashing on the play, but again, the penalty kill held firm.
In fact, the Kraken killed all seven Islanders power plays, allowing just seven shots in total while shorthanded. That’s a massive turnaround for a unit that’s struggled all season.
Seattle’s defensive structure in the third was as good as it’s been in weeks. The Islanders managed just five shots in the final frame, and with over four minutes left, pulled Sorokin for the extra attacker.
That opened the door for Jared McCann to seal it. He won a race to a cleared puck and buried the empty-netter at 16:32. Grubauer picked up an assist on the play - a fitting reward for a night where he was sharp from start to finish.
Where Things Stand
With the win, Seattle moves into a three-way tie with San Jose and Los Angeles for the Western Conference’s second wild card spot. It’s a logjam, and every point matters. But this was more than just two points in the standings - it was a statement that the Kraken can still grind out the kind of win that playoff teams find a way to get.
There’s still work to be done. The penalty kill, while perfect tonight, has a long way to go.
And the offense, though opportunistic, still needs more consistency. But for a team that’s been searching for a spark, this was a performance to build on.
Up Next
Seattle continues its six-game homestand Friday night against the Anaheim Ducks - a Pacific Division rival that’s also in the playoff mix. If the Kraken can build off this win and start stringing together results, the postseason conversation will stay very much alive in the Emerald City.