It was a valiant effort. Genuinely, a valiant effort.
But a valiant effort to almost leave a hole you dug yourself is still you dying in a hole you dug yourself.
But first, the Highlights
Game Preview
- Your TOI Leader was Brandon Montour with 26:46 logged.
- This was EASILY going to be the worst game of the year for the Kraken. Very easily looking like a lot of what we’ve seen already; bad net-front D, complete inability to leave the zone with any confidence, the puck security was absolutely unacceptable, passing was inept, there were even some throwbacks to other bad seasons where weird and dumb things started happening to separate the Kraken from the Panthers like own goals. This would’ve been the definitive “stick a fork in ’em” game that turned our attention towards the NHL Draft rather than wondering if there was a way for Seattle to perhaps sneak in. And Then the third period happened. All at once, the Kraken took advantage of the fact that the Florida Panthers are a beaten and bloodied team, and somehow found a way to score not just once, but four goals in under ten minutes; two in almost an identical fashion. The point gotten. Suddenly…it’s can you actually do this. Naturally, the deficiencies of the team came to a head in both overtime (in which the command to SHOOT from the crowd becomes more of an agonized plea), and the shootout (something that a team full of players who struggle to hit the net are going to be in hell during).
- The part of this that’s the most frustrating is this; sure, the Kraken got that point. They are still…technically involved in the playoff race. Here’s the thing; Those first 50 minutes of the game? Still very much happened. The final 10 being a furious course correction is cool, and I’m glad the Kraken can still do that…so why didn’t they do that for the first two periods? Where was this effort before it became clear you were looking like well-dressed clowns? If you weren’t getting yelled at on the bench for the first goal that made your defense look absolutely foolish, what made the next three suddenly hurt less? Did it not sink in that the Panthers have almost none of their principal players until you were down by 3?
- I’m getting really annoyed with how discombobulated the defense of this team is. Just no cohesion, no ability to adequately find a space to break up the puck carrier’s path to the net, absolutely no ability to get the puck out of danger…Lane Lambert’s system can work, but I don’t think it can continue to work with this particular cast anymore. They have time to prove me wrong…but we’re running out of time quickly.
- Special teams was alright. No power play goals, but they didn’t give up any power play goals, so that’s something.
- Another Daccord night where he was stuck with this disaster of a net-front presence, and the SV% reflected it. .875% on 24 shots. He gave it his best effort…but man it’s hard when it looks like he’s facing down a 0-on-2 almost all the time.
- The easy games are done on this trip. Now you have to play Tampa, who is 6-3-1 in their last ten and rapidly getting their act together, and Buffalo, who is 8-1-1 in that same time span, and has a deathgrip on the mandate of heaven. Better have an effort like those final ten minutes, or it’s gonna be Tankathon time!
- They really just got suckered by this stupid division, didn’t they.
Was there anything positive about this game?
Absolutely! They somehow tied it after playing like butt!
- Ryker Evans got things going with a major goal to get the Kraken out of their death spiral.
- Matty Beniers got another tally on a hard push to the net. Good stuff from him!
- Jordan Eberle had one of two breakouts for the Kraken that went in behind Bobrovsky. He also had an assist!
- Bobby McMann might be the best pickup of the year with how much effort he puts into just about everything he does. His breakout tied the game and secured a point in the standings.
The Chartz, via NaturalStatTrick.com
The Kraken return to the ice on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. That game is at 4pm PST.
We’ll see you then.
Let’s hope we get some clarity here. Win or lose.
Keep Calm, and Post Zoidberg When We Win.