Development camp: done. Training camp: done. Opening night: done. 17-game January: done. Olympic break: done. Trade deadline: done. The Seattle Kraken have passed all the 2025-26 season mileposts, save one – the 21-game sprint to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Seattle came up lame in the first leg of that sprint, dropping a 7-4 decision to the Ottawa Senators Saturday at Climate Pledge Arena. For the second straight home contest, the Kraken failed to capitalize against an opponent outside of playoff position.
By the midpoint of the game, Ottawa had built a 4-1 lead and were TRIPLING the Kraken in shots, 21-7. Joey Daccord, a onetime Senators draft pick with 29 saves on 36 shots, had a night to forget – and he had a lot of company. Believe it or not, Seattle actually led this game (for half a minute) on a Jacob Melanson 1st period tally. Eeli Tolvanen, Matty Beniers and Brandon Montour scored the other Kraken goals.
Jaden Schwartz suffered a scary injury that drew blood late in the 1st period. When Tolvanen rocked Nick Cousins with a neutral-zone check, Schwartz ended up on the receiving end of an accidental roundhouse kick to the face. The boot of an off-balance Cousins rose to cut Schwartz, who had to be helped off the ice by Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson.
Schwartz, who missed 21 games earlier this season, did not return.
Lineup Adjustments
Due to illness, two veteran Kraken – defenseman Ryan Lindgren and forward Freddy Gaudreau – were knocked out of the lineup. One man’s illness is another man’s opportunity – or in this case, two. Recent healthy scratches Cale Fleury (defense) and Ryan Winterton (4th line) drew back into the lineup. Blueliner Adam Larsson, a game-time decision, did suit up.
The newest Kraken, trade deadline acquisition Bobby McMann, hasn’t yet joined the team. The Senators are minus David Perron, traded to Detroit. But former L.A. King Warren Foegele will be in the lineup. Maybe he can help Ottawa’s pregame soccer clatch, which went off the rails underneath the CPA stands.
1st Period
For the defense: Fleury got a rise from the crowd early, stapling Shane Pinto into the boards. Larsson prevented a high-danger Ottawa chance with a kick-block and a beauty. At the other end, Senators goalie Linus Ullmark grabbed Jared McCann’s right circle blast; it’s Seattle’s first shot, seven minutes in.
Sometimes it’s better to follow than to lead. Ullmark turned aside Ben Meyers’ tip-in try of a Winterton shot-pass. Melanson bulled his way past the Senators defense to knock the rebound home for a 1-0 Kraken lead at 8:45.
Seattle enjoys its lead for 34 seconds. That’s how long it takes for Tyler Kleven to pick a top corner past Daccord. Melanson and Kleven didn’t look like players scoring just their second goals of the season.
What’s not a surprise is Dylan Cozens giving the Senators the lead at 13:35, a short-side rocket beating Daccord. Cozens’ 23rd of the season gave him goals in four consecutive games.
A Seattle power play lasts four seconds. That’s the elapsed time between Ottawa’s Pinto cross-checking McCann and Seattle’s Jordan Eberle high-sticking Ridly Greig. Later, Daccord stones Jake Sanderson, whose open look from in close was labeled for the top corner. Ottawa outshot Seattle 12-5.
Oh, and well done, Chandler Stephenson.
2nd Period
Shane Pinto deflects Artem Zub’s shot for a 3-1 Ottawa lead at 1:34. You may not find this as fun a fact as Senators social media thinks.
Daccord’s teammates hang him out to dry on Ottawa’s fourth goal, a bang-bang pass and finish by Michael Amadio at 10:09.
Finally, signs of life from the home team late in the period. Montour crushed Sanderson into the corner boards. Then at 15:00, Tolvanen blows a 92 mph laser past Ullmark to bring the Kraken within 4-2.
3rd Period
Even Daccord’s normally stellar stickhandling betrays him. The goalie’s outlet pass is stolen by Lars Eller, who finds L.A. transplant Foegele in the slot before Daccord can re-set himself. 5-2 Ottawa at 2:42. Say goodnight, Gracie (look it up, kids).
Tim Stützle makes it 6-2 for Ottawa 76 seconds later. I’m sure you’d much rather look at the photo by DJLR’s Taylor Codomo of Melanson’s 1st period goal for Seattle.
Brady Tkachuk makes it an unlucky seven for the visitors at 7:24. Taylor’s photo below is not actually Daccord throwing back all the pucks Ottawa got past him tonight.
For the record, Matty Beniers’ 16th in garbage time.
The Senators must have had enough of Jared McCann’s team-high six hits. Kleven was given a major for cross-checking into McCann’s face with 3:25 remaining. A few seconds later, Eller trips Berkly Catton. Montour scores on the 5-on-3 to make the score a more respectable-looking 7-4 at 17:45.
Up Next
Two contests remain on Seattle’s six-game homestand, currently 2-2-0. A visit from the Nashville Predators is next up at CPA on Tuesday, followed by the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.