They’ve played so well this season that it was looking like the Seattle Kraken might get at least one win against every other team in the NHL by the end of season two. That’s not going to happen now that they’ve dropped both games in the season series against Tampa Bay and stand 0-and-4 all-time against the Lightning.
That one will have to wait until 2023-’24.
The Kraken still have a chance to have at least one win against every other NHL team by the end of this season, especially considering the other three teams they’ve never beaten aren’t doing so well.
— Columbus Blue Jackets: The Seattle Kraken picked up points twice against the Blue Jackets last season, losing both games in overtime. Seattle lost 5-4 at home on December 11th, 2021 after losing in Columbus 2-1 in the Kraken’s 3rd-ever NHL game on October 16th.
While last season’s match-ups vs. Columbus came earlier in the schedule, this year they come later.
The first opportunity to get a win this time around will come on Saturday, January 28th at Climate Pledge Arena. Although the Blue Jackets have been awful, tied for the lowest point total in the NHL (28) entering action Wednesday night, the Kraken will be playing the 2nd-half of a back-to-back set at home and their third game in four nights.
Their second opportunity … look out … also the 2nd-half of a back-to-back and the third game in four nights, all on the road, will happen on March 3rd.
— Philadelphia Flyers: A similar scenario in terms of schedule set-up this year and last. The Seattle Kraken were buried 6-1 in Philly on October 18th, 2021, the next game after the loss in Columbus. Then on December 29th at Climate Pledge Arena, the Flyers won 3-2 in overtime.
Philadelphia started slowly this season under new head coach John Tortorella but have picked up steam. They’ve won eight of their last ten games and stand with a .500 record as of Wednesday.
Seattle will get a crack at the Flyers twice in mid February, five nights apart. The Seattle Kraken are in Philly on the 12th and then host the Flyers on the 16th.
Pesky Kraken Neighbors
— Vancouver Canucks: Yep. The Seattle Kraken have never beaten their regional rivals in six tries. Even with their struggles this season the Canucks have managed to rise to the occasion and take care of business vs. Seattle.
The Kraken came close on December 22nd at Rogers Arena but twice blew multi-goal leads, including a two-goal lead in the third period, in losing in a shoot-out 6-5. All of the four losses last season, including three of them by the score of 5-2, and the other one this season, have come in regulation.
The Kraken lost a fight-filled affair at home 5-4 back on October 27th, 2022.
The next opportunity to finally snag some Pacific bragging rights will come next week when the Kraken host the Canucks on January 25th. Seattle will be coming off three days of rest from game action after an otherwise gruelling month. Vancouver will have played the night before at home against the Chicago Blackhawks.
The final match-up is set for April 4th in Vancouver. The Kraken will be playing the second game of a back-to-back set and their third game in four nights.
Best case scenario, by mid-February it could be 30 down, one to go for the Seattle Kraken.