Kraken's season ends with a whimper, not a roar. Rookies impress amidst late-season struggles, but the standings tell a harsh story.
After a disappointing 5-3 loss to Los Angeles in their final home game, the Kraken hit the road for two more shots at redemption. Unfortunately, the pattern continued and the team did not find victory.
A 4-1 loss to Vegas on the 15th and 2-0 shut out loss to Colorado on the 16th meant the season went out on a sigh, rather than a roar. Recalled goaltender Victor Östman got his first NHL start in Denver. The rookie faced 35 shots from the conference-leading Avalanche and managed to stop 33 of them. If the offense had been able to generate any momentum, Östman could have handed Seattle an unlikely win. Regardless of the loss, Östman ended the night with a .943 save percentage.
The Kraken finished regular season placed 27th overall with 79 points and a 34-37-11 record. Toronto, Calgary, the New York Rangers, Blackhawks, and Canucks are the only teams that finished with worse records. With their final loss behind them, the Kraken returned Östman, Nikke Kokko, and Jani Nyman to Coachella Valley. It is expected that others will follow as the Firebirds embark on their fourth playoff run in four seasons.