A day that began with the rousing news that Kraken forward Jordan Eberle had re-signed with the Seattle Kraken for two more years ended with disappointment as Seattle dropped a tight-checking contest to the visiting Winnipeg Jets, 3-0. Both teams struggled to possess the puck through the neutral zone and establish offensive zone time for much of the first 30 minutes, but the Jets seized control over the back half of the game, controlling the pace and frequently hemming the Kraken in their own zone.
“We just didn’t have a lot of energy tonight,” Kraken coach Dave Hakstol said postgame. “We saw that momentum really turn in the second period.” He noted the Kraken “couldn’t find that burst of energy to get us going on the right track [again].”
The Kraken had a handful of dangerous looks throughout the game, but could not convert. On the other hand, Winnipeg’s stars delivered in the third period. First, Mark Schiefle beat Joey Daccord from the low slot at 7:15 in the period. After that, Adam Lowry knocked home a point-black rebound shot at 11:28 in the final frame. Winnipeg then added an empty-netter to cap off the win.
The Kraken entered Monday night with points in eight-of-ten games, a run that had started to close the gap in the Pacific Division.
Even with this loss, Seattle remains just six points out of playoff position. But the schedule is starting to run out. Here are our three takeaways leaving Climate Pledge Arena after this one.
Takeaway #1: Schwartz injured
Jaden Schwartz left in the first period with an apparent injury. We didn’t see anything in Schwartz’s last shift to indicate what the injury might be, but he was grimacing as the puck dropped following an icing call midway through the shift.
Kraken coach Dave Hakstol didn’t have an update on Schwartz postgame, but Hakstol was quick to disclaim the loss of Schwartz as a turning point in the game. “What [Schwartz] does specifically at the net front obviously is important [in] a tight-check, defensive-style game,” Hakstol said. “But that’s not the difference in the hockey game.”
The Kraken do not play again until Tuesday, so the team will have time to evaluate Schwartz’s injury and the forward will have time to recuperate. With luck this relatively light stretch in the schedule will minimize the time he misses. But if the team is without Schwartz for several games going forward, the depth of the team–already stretched by the Alex Wennberg trade–will be further tested. This is a tough position to be in with every point so important.
Takeaway #2: Kraken ran out of gas in the second half of the game
This one started as a low-event slog. Both teams struggled to create offense. A mix of tight defensive play and unforced giveaways were to blame on both sides.
Winnipeg was quicker to right the ship in the second period though. While Seattle escaped the second without conceding a goal, Winnipeg was driving play toward Seattle’s end more consistently. Seattle generated just four shots on goal to Winnipeg’s nine.
“You look at the long change in the second period. It’s a big deal when you start with the puck and fresh legs versus defending and just doing your best to get off the ice. You’re not setting up the next line and [you’re] not putting that line in the best spot when they have to come out and defend,” Hakstol said.
Ultimately, Winnipeg carried that second period momentum over into the third period and the Kraken couldn’t find a response. Winnipeg outshot Seattle 14-5 in the final period and outscored Seattle 3-0.
“We didn’t execute well enough to push momentum our way,” Hakstol said. “I’m not disappointed with our effort. Our guys worked. It was a night where I just didn’t feel like we had a lot of gas in the tank.”
Takeaway #3: Kraken need to turn the page quickly
The team entered the game aglow in the optimism of Eberle’s re-signing and a successful road trip. It exited on a notably somber note after a flat effort.
When asked how he’d approach the team to make sure it still has the belief that it can push for the playoffs, Hakstol kept it simple. He said the key was to “just go back to work tomorrow. There’s no magic to it.”
Tomas Tatar had a similar message, saying the team’s goals were still out there for them. The team just needed to turn the page. “We know what we have to do to get in. This was just one game. We put it behind us.” He noted that the next game against Las Vegas is “huge” because it’s against the team “they want to catch” in the standings.
Tatar is right, but time is running short on this Kraken season. The team needs the turnaround to start Tuesday against Las Vegas.