The Seattle Kraken went full emotional roller coaster mode this week. It started with a convincing, though not exactly dominant, win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday. Businesslike, efficient, and enough to keep the good vibes rolling. The Kraken had a two-goal lead and looked in control the entire game.
Then Thursday happened.
In what was easily the worst loss of the season, the Kraken laid a giant, smelly egg against the San Jose Sharks, getting thumped 6–1 at home by what was, at the time, the third-worst team in the league. It wasn’t just the score, it was the way it happened; mistakes up and down the lineup, lifeless stretches of play, and the kind of performance that makes you question everything. I know this because I did. Walking out of the arena, I found myself wondering: is this team actually good? Sure, every team gets blown out now and then, but when it’s my team getting blown out, I naturally take it personally.
And then came Saturday.
News broke in the morning that Joey Daccord was heading to injured reserve with an upper-body injury, an unexpected twist considering he was a full participant in Thursday’s practice. That meant Philipp Grubauer would get the nod against the St. Louis Blues. The early going was not promising. The Kraken looked sharp for the first five minutes, but a brutal turnover led to a Dylan Holloway goal, and five minutes later, a deflection off Adam Larsson’s stick on a penalty kill made it 2–0 Blues.
But this time, the Kraken pushed back. They clawed their way back to tie it in the second, showed some actual fight, and then, after falling behind again in the third, delivered one of the most dramatic comebacks in franchise history. Chandler Stephenson tied it with two seconds left in regulation, and Shane Wright sealed it in overtime with a slick finish off a beautiful drop pass from Eeli Tolvanen.
we know that’s wright 🙂↕️ pic.twitter.com/kE94Q4B0QT
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) November 9, 2025
Less than 24 hours later, the Kraken were back at it, facing the Dallas Stars on the second night of a back-to-back. Despite the quick turnaround, they brought the kind of compete level that’s become a hallmark of this year’s squad. Seattle outshot Dallas 31–24 and controlled long stretches of play, but couldn’t quite solve Casey DeSmith enough to tilt the scoreboard. A 2–1 loss stings, especially after Saturday’s emotional high, but the effort was there. And in a week defined by swings, this one at least ended with a fight.
Resilience on display?
One of the few endearing traits of last season’s Kraken squad was its knack for clawing back from two-goal deficits to steal wins, something they did nine times last season. Primarily because of a lack of opportunity, this season’s group hadn’t shown that same capability, until Saturday.
There were hints of it earlier in the season, like the gutsy third-period rally against Montreal that forced overtime, even if it ended in a loss. But Saturday’s comeback against St. Louis felt different. It was gritty, dramatic, and decisive. For the first time this season, the Kraken didn’t just push back, they finished the job.
As a fan, it’s reassuring to know this team still has that gear. It’s the kind of team that refuses to fold, even when the odds tilt hard the other way.
19-year-old Berkly Catton plays game No. 10
Berkly Catton officially hit the 10-game mark on Sunday, triggering him burning his first year of his entry-level contract. That’s a significant milestone, but it doesn’t necessarily lock him into the Kraken lineup for the rest of the season. Catton continues to flash the high-end skill that made him a top-10 pick, but he’s also shown the kind of youthful inconsistency that becomes costly when the margins are razor thin.
It’s worth remembering that burning a year of the ELC doesn’t guarantee a full NHL season. Daniel Sprong played 18 games for Pittsburgh in 2015–16 before being sent back to junior in December. Others have done that, but Sprong jumped to mind for some reason. With Jared McCann’s return looming, and assuming the injury bug doesn’t bite again, it’s fair to wonder if the Kraken might consider a similar path for Catton. Development isn’t linear, and sometimes the best move is the one that sets a player up for long-term success.
Kraken penalty kill challenges
The Kraken’s penalty kill has been a sore spot for much of the season, and the numbers don’t sugarcoat it. Seattle currently sits 30th in the league in PK percentage. But over the last five games, there’s been a noticeable uptick in execution and structure. Yes, they’ve still allowed a power-play goal in each of the last three outings, but the overall kill rate and pressure on entries have looked sharper. For a unit that’s struggled, even marginal improvement feels like a step in the right direction.
Help may be on the horizon, too. Freddy Gaudreau, who was logging the most shorthanded minutes among Kraken forwards before landing on IR, is skating again and approaching the four-week mark of his original four-to-six-week recovery timeline. His return would be a welcome boost to a penalty kill group still trying to find its rhythm. If the Kraken can pair Gaudreau’s defensive instincts with the recent signs of progress, they might finally start digging out of the PK basement.
Other musings
- Saturday night’s comeback win was the first time this season that the Kraken trailed at any point in a game and won. They also never led in the game.
- With his first NHL goal on Wednesday night against the Sharks, Ryan Winterton became the 50th player to score in Kraken history. He is the eighth player to record his first NHL goal as a member of the Seattle Kraken. Can you name the other seven?
- Eeli Tolvanen scored his first goal of the season off a rebound. That was the Kraken’s seventh rebound goal of the season. They rank third in the league in this category. Not sure how much weight this stat carries, but they were near the bottom last season. It’s another example of subtle, incremental improvement we are seeing this season.
first goal of the season? was just a matter of time. pic.twitter.com/zRmrWg0jve
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) November 9, 2025
- Faceoff possession was something the Kraken struggled with early in the season, but there has been some progress made in that part of the game. The Kraken had two faceoff goals over the weekend, which puts them at the top third of the league in this stat.
- With just one start each over the first 30 days of the season, it wouldn’t have been surprising to see either Philipp Grubauer or Matt Murray show signs of rust. Instead, both stepped up when called upon, delivering solid performances that gave the Kraken a chance to win both games.
- Saturday night marked the Kraken’s seventh overtime game of the season, tied with Montreal for the most.
- The Kraken are tied for second in points in the Pacific Division with 18. As strong a start as it’s been, they’re just two points ahead of seventh-place Edmonton. This division is tight.
- One team I’ve watched a lot lately is the Anaheim Ducks. They lead the Pacific in points and are the league leaders with 4.1 goals per game.
- The Kraken are now 0–2–0 on the season in the second game of back-to-backs. They were 0–12–0 in those games last season. Their next chance comes in a few weeks against the New York Islanders.
- Seattle Torrent forward Hilary Knight had a hat trick in Game 2 of the Rivalry Series between the USA and Canada. The Torrent were well represented in these two games with five players on Team USA and two on Team Canada. The U.S. won the first two games and will re-engage in early December.
- The Torrent open training camp on Tuesday and will head to Vancouver for two preseason games against the Vancouver Goldeneyes this coming weekend.
- Trivia answer: Matty Beniers, Shane Wright, Tye Kartye, Jani Nyman, Ryker Evans, Kole Lind, and Will Borgen scored their first NHL goals with the Kraken.
Goal of the Week
Easy one this week.
.5 seconds on the clock?! yeah, stevie’s got it 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/hfAFvLFPed
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) November 9, 2025
Player Performances
Marcus Johansson (MIN) – The former Kraken forward played his 1,000th NHL game on Sunday with the Minnesota Wild against Calgary. He only played 51 games with Seattle in 2021–22 but was a steady, reliable presence on a team not known for its steadiness.
Andre Burakovsky (CHI) – Another former Kraken is off to a great start with Chicago: seven goals and seven assists in 15 games.
Jagger Firkus (CVF/SEA) – Firkus is thriving in his second pro season with Coachella Valley, tallying 11 points in 11 games.
The week ahead
The Kraken return to Climate Pledge Arena for a three-game homestand, and while home ice is always welcome, the schedule offers little breathing room.
- Tuesday: Columbus Blue Jackets. Don’t let their record fool you, Columbus is a young and exciting team that plays with pace. They’ll be on the second night of a back-to-back, but they’re more dangerous than the standings suggest.
- Thursday: Winnipeg Jets. Always a handful and likely still salty about the Kraken’s win in Manitoba earlier this season. Expect a heavy, structured game we have come to expect from the Jets.
- Saturday: San Jose Sharks return to Seattle riding a 7–2–1 stretch and fresh off a 6–1 dismantling of the Kraken just last week. That one stung, and you can bet the Kraken haven’t forgotten.
With key players still sidelined, grabbing three of six possible points would be a respectable outcome. But if they can swipe a little extra before heading out on a four-game road trip, it could go a long way toward keeping this early-season success rolling.
So, how are we feeling after all that? From despair to delirium and everything in between, this week had it all. Drop your thoughts, reactions, or emotional damage assessments below.