Regardless of a 2-6-0 document for the reason that Olympic break, the Seattle Kraken in some way held on to the Western Convention’s second and remaining wild-card playoff spot.
That’s, till Thursday night time.
The Kraken suffered a 5-1 dwelling loss to Colorado whereas San Jose gained at Boston, placing the Sharks right into a postseason place.
Seattle will look to regain that spot and its momentum when it performs Saturday at Vancouver, a squad which has the fewest factors within the league.
“We’re falling out of the playoffs proper now, so (we have) obtained to determine it out and hopefully claw our method again,” Kraken middle Chandler Stephenson mentioned. “Put some factors collectively.”
This would be the fourth and remaining regular-season assembly between Cascadia rivals. The groups cut up shootout choices on Dec. 29 and Jan. 2, the Canucks successful the previous 3-2 in Seattle and the Kraken taking the latter 4-3 in Vancouver.
The host Kraken gained 5-1 on Feb. 28 as captain Jordan Eberle had two targets and an help, Stephenson contributed a purpose and two assists and Joey Daccord made 27 saves.
That final matchup opened a six-game homestand for the Kraken. They adopted that up with an emotional 2-1 victory towards Jap Convention-leading Carolina, however have misplaced 4 straight since.
The Kraken allowed three first-period targets towards Colorado on 15 photographs, with coach Lane Lambert pulling Daccord after 20 minutes.
“It was not any reflection on Joey,” Lambert mentioned. “Our staff wanted a wake-up name.
“You possibly can’t spot that staff that many targets. We have gotta get up. We’re doing issues which are completely mind-boggling to me. It is gotta cease.”
The Kraken are nonetheless awaiting the debut of ahead Bobby McMann, acquired from Toronto on the March 6 NHL commerce deadline. McMann’s visa paperwork remains to be being processed.
“It is extraordinarily disappointing proper now, the uncertainty,” mentioned Lambert, who’s acquainted with McMann from his time as a Maple Leafs assistant previous to becoming a member of the Kraken this season. “We traded for him for a motive, to assist our hockey membership. Having him not be out there to assist our hockey staff hurts our hockey staff.”
The Canucks are 2-4-2 for the reason that Olympic break after a 4-3 shootout victory Thursday towards visiting Nashville.
Defenseman Filip Hronek scored the tying purpose with 1:01 remaining in regulation as Vancouver rallied from a 3-1 deficit.
“We wanted this one,” mentioned Hronek, who additionally had an help. “We entered the sport with a very good effort after which in some way we obtained scored on. I am actually blissful that we did not quit and battled again.”
Marco Rossi had a purpose and two assists, Brock Boeser added considered one of every and Nikita Tolopilo made 16 saves — then stopped all three Nashville tries within the shootout.
Jake DeBrusk transformed his shootout try to offer the Canucks the victory.
“It is a enhance of confidence, for positive,” Hronek mentioned. “It is by no means enjoyable to maintain dropping so it is actually good that we get that style of successful. Hopefully we are able to construct on it.”
Canucks ahead Evander Kane returned Thursday after lacking one recreation with an upper-body damage.
–Discipline Stage Media
