Misery abounded at Climate Pledge Arena the last time the Minnesota Wild visited. The Seattle Kraken lost 4-1 to the Wild on Dec. 8, during a stretch in which Seattle dropped 10 of 11 games.
Fast-forward one calendar month. For the Kraken, riding an 8-0-1 hot streak, Thursday’s rematch at CPA would be a measuring stick of just how much they’ve improved against the same elite foe. Especially because the Wild entered boasting the NHL’s third-best record.
Minnesota left Seattle the same way – just barely, escaping a two-goal Kraken rally in the 3rd period to win 3-2 in overtime. Mats Zuccarello scored the overtime winner on a pretty passing play at 2:09, after the Wild had missed high or wide on their first three scoring opportunities. Both goalies excelled; Minnesota’s Jesper Wallstedt with 26 saves, and Seattle’s Philipp Grubauer with 31, including three in the extra session to keep the game alive.
After being held to just one shot in the first 15 minutes of the middle period, Seattle forced overtime on 3rd period goals from Adam Larsson, and Matty Beniers on a power play. Vince Dunn assisted on both goals.
Seattle lost for the first time in calendar year 2026 (4-0-1), but extend their point streak to 10 (8-0-2). They had scored four or more goals in each of those post-New Year’s victories. The loss broke a personal streak of four remarkable starts by Philipp Grubauer, all wins, in which Grubi had allowed exactly one goal per game.
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Pride Night
The Kraken designated this as “Pride Night,” under the banner of their season-long “Common Threads” promotions.
The logos were designed by local artist Vegas Vecchio, a queer and genderqueer artist.
Vecchio explained in a press release, “The background signifies the darkness, hardship, and struggle to find and accept our unique identity; we are the bright colors bursting through the darkness. You will find rainbows, pride flags, and queer symbolism, some loud and proud, others more subtle. We stand for love.”
1st Period
The Wild have wobbled of late, 3-2-3 in their last eight. Oddly for a team with a .659 winning percentage, Minnesota is middle of the pack in scoring, bad on faceoffs, and bottom-third in penalty killing. Their calling card is team defense, a second-best in the NHL 2.64 goals-allowed per game. Seattle sports an almost-as-stingy 10th best GA/Game of 2.83.
We’re no longer surprised at Grubauer’s 10-bell saves. One comes 52 seconds in, when the goalie’s glove deflects a Danila Yurov wrister. 26-goal-scorer Matt Boldy is set to fire, until Freddy Gaudreau’s backcheck strips him of the puck.
On the Minnesota grade-A chances, third time’s the charm. Ryan Hartman’s snipe beats Grubauer high on the glove side at 5:00.
On the penalty kill, the Kraken clear the zone five – count ’em, five – times. No such luck when Brock Faber fires down the slot, cleanly beating Grubauer for a 2-0 Minnesota lead at 15:54.
The Kraken, who tallied three times on the power play Tuesday against Boston, can’t connect on their first chance tonight. Back at 5-on-5, Ben Meyers gets, not a grade-A chance, but an A+ chance. The puck comes to him, all by his lonesome, 15 feet in front of the crease; Meyers actually has time to make a move on Wild goalie Wallstedt, who still makes the save.
Seattle outshot Minnesota 11-10.
2nd Period
Grubauer brought absolutely filthy numbers into this match. The Kraken netminder’s .926 save percentage was second in the league among goalies who have played 13 or more games; his goals-against average of 2.21 was third. During his last four victories, he stopped 137 of 141 shots, an insane .972 save percentage.
From the left edge of the crease, Zuccarello appears to have a layup. Out of seemingly nowhere, Grubauer dives, puts up a glove, and makes a tremendous save.
Another likely 3rd Wild goal is prevented by Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak, who gets his twig in the path of Vladimir Tarasenko’s high-danger chance.
Shots are 18-17 Minnesota after 40,
3rd Period
Notes: The Kraken are captain-less, Jordan Eberle ruled out with an upper body injury. This game puts a wrap on Minnesota’s seven-game road trip.
When you’re in desperate need of a goal, who would you turn to but that prolific scoring machine, defenseman Adam Larsson? How the arena reacted:
- “Aahhhhh!” Vince Dunn walks in from the left circle and fires.
- “Ohhhhhh!” Dunn’s shot hits the right post.
- “Yeahhhhh!” The Big Cat scores his 3rd of the season on the rebound at 3:13.
For some reason, Minnesota declares a vendetta against Berkly Catton, with disastrous results.
The Kraken have a golden opportunity to tie when Jake Middleton trips Catton. Dunn gets dumped after a whistle by Marcus Foligno. No penalty is called then, but with two seconds left on the Middleton minor, Yakov Trenin elbows Catton.
Jared McCann winds up for a slapshot. Though Wallstedt makes the save, the rebound lands on Matty Beniers’s blade in the slot. Beniers’ one-timer ties the game 2-2, his 8th, at 9:07.
Grubauer keeps the game tied with a pad save on former Kraken teammate Marcus Johansson. Then Eeli Tolvanen makes a painful, but vital, block with his boot on a Quinn Hughes drive.
In the last two minutes, Jacob Melanson hammers Foligno with a legal check behind the Wild net. Foligno, on the way to his bench, retaliates with a less-than-legal response. They continue jawing while play continues. Shots after regulation favor Minny, 30-28. To overtime we go, where Minnesota dominated – and won.
Up Next
A five-game Seattle road trip begins Saturday in Raleigh against another top team, the Carolina Hurricanes. Future opponents on the trip include the Rangers, Devils, Bruins and Mammoth. The Kraken return home on Monday, Jan. 19, for a 2 pm MLK Day matinee against the Penguins.