The Kraken found themselves in rough waters, dropping a 5-1 decision to the Blues in St. Louis on Thursday night.
This came just a day after a 4-1 defeat to the Stars in Dallas. Being outscored 9-2 right after the NHL’s Winter Olympic break isn't exactly the start Seattle was hoping for.
Offensive struggles are nothing new for this team. With an average of 2.84 goals per game, they sit 25th in the 32-team league. While their defense holds strong, allowing just 2.89 goals per game-11th best-it’s clear that generating and capitalizing on scoring chances is crucial, especially post-break when teams can be a bit rusty.
In Dallas, the Stars, riding a seven-game winning streak, surged to a 4-0 lead after two periods, leaving the Kraken in the dust. However, against the Blues, Seattle showed more fight. Kaapo Kakko, fresh from a bronze medal with Finland, tied the game at 1-1 in the first period with his seventh goal of the season, giving the Kraken a glimmer of hope.
But that hope was short-lived. Just over a minute into the second period, Jordan Kyrou put the Blues ahead, and Dylan Holloway followed with the first of his three goals just 23 seconds later. That quick one-two punch effectively sealed Seattle's fate.
Seattle's power play woes continued, going 0-for-7 over the two games, while Dallas capitalized on one of their three opportunities. The Blues, meanwhile, didn’t need a man advantage to make their mark.
With these back-to-back losses, and the Nashville Predators securing a win over the Chicago Blackhawks, the Western Conference playoff race tightened. The Kraken cling to the second wild card spot, just two points ahead of Nashville.
As of now, the LA Kings and San Jose Sharks are also in pursuit, adding pressure to Seattle's playoff aspirations. Interestingly, it looks like at least two teams with a negative goal differential might make the postseason in the west-a testament to the conference's relative lack of depth compared to the East.
Next up, the Kraken will look to rebound as they host the last-place Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.