With the NHL’s regular season starting in just a couple of days, and as I begin my writing here at Sound Of Hockey, I thought it was worth adding some gravity to the first two home games of the season for the Seattle Kraken—because they feel more important than those opening games typically do.

Those two contests, against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday and the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, feel oddly critical despite the long, 82-game marathon ahead. After those matchups at Climate Pledge Arena, the Kraken immediately head out on a grueling six-game road trip against tough opponents. A couple of early wins could give them a much-needed edge before that challenge begins.

These games also give the fanbase a rare opportunity in the early part of the season to cheer on the team before two more weeks without home hockey. And after a disappointing finish last year—when Seattle placed seventh in the Pacific Division—both the players and their supporters are hungry for a positive start.

Slow starts have been the norm

From a fan’s perspective, winning those first two home games would mean seeing the Kraken start a season in a way they haven’t before. Historically, Seattle has struggled out of the gate.

Even in 2022-23—by far their best season standings-wise—the Kraken won just three of their first eight games, with two of those victories coming on the road. In 2023-24, they managed only two wins in their first eight, one at home and one away. They improved slightly in 2024-25, going 4-4 in their first eight, with two wins at Climate Pledge Arena and two on the road.

The trend is clear: fast starts haven’t been Seattle’s strong suit. And that’s without factoring in the added difficulty of this year’s schedule, which is compressed because of the Olympics. The Kraken will rarely get more than one day off between games, so setting a positive tone early is more critical than ever. That six-game road swing through Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Philadelphia, Washington, and Winnipeg will feel even more daunting if the first two games don’t go well.

A brief chance for in-person fandom in October

With new head coach Lane Lambert and several new faces on the roster, everyone hopes those first two games will show that Seattle’s rigorous training camp approach has paid off. After a long offseason and preseason, the regular season is finally here—and these home games represent the only chances fans will have to see their team in person before the Kraken disappear for weeks.

By the way, since this is my first time writing for Sound Of Hockey, I’ll also share a bit about my own fandom for the game.

For me personally, one of the things that made me fall in love with hockey was the energy inside an arena. I’ve been craving that excitement since Seattle’s season ended far too early last year.

The first hockey game I ever attended was an Everett Silvertips game, and I was instantly hooked by the incredible atmosphere. I couldn’t believe how electric the building felt—and that was just at the WHL level. What really drew me in was the passion of hockey fans, which is impossible to ignore, especially in an NHL arena. The players and fans feed off one another’s energy, creating a competitive environment that everyone in the building can feel.

Back to the Kraken: a win on the road is great—it means you’ve overcome a tough environment without much support. But a win at home is even better because it energizes the fanbase.

A hockey crowd can be one of the loudest and most electric in all of sports, thanks to the intensity already present on the ice. And because the Kraken have only two home games before heading out on the road, the energy inside Climate Pledge Arena in those matchups will be crucial in setting the tone for what’s ahead.

While the first eight games of the season aren’t make-or-break in terms of playoff hopes, starting on the right foot could mark a real shift for Seattle. As history shows, they haven’t had the best track record early on—but who’s to say that a hot start wouldn’t improve their odds?

Strong performances this week would give the team some much-needed confidence before their daunting road trip, and they’d boost fan morale, too. With that challenge looming, the Kraken must focus on these two home games first—and the fans will need to bring nearly a month’s worth of energy to Climate Pledge Arena to help push them across the finish line.