Seattle Went Winless In Nine Straight During Expansion Season of 2021-22
The south Florida city of Sunrise, home of the Florida Panthers, is 3,278 road miles from Climate Pledge Arena, home of the Seattle Kraken.
The NHL standings distance between the two clubs, who meet tonight in the fourth of a six game Kraken homestand, is almost as wide. And growing wider, as both teams skate in opposite directions.
Seattle is 0-for the homestand, 0-for December, 0-wins in its last eight games (0-6-2).
"0" also describes the number of goals the Kraken scored in their last outing, a 3-0 shutout Sunday by the Minnesota Wild.
Whether it was playing its third game in four nights, facing a Wild team prioritizing defense, playing without two key forwards, or the weight of the losing streak, the life Seattle showed in hard-fought losses to New Jersey and Tampa Bay appeared missing against Minnesota.
It didn't help that the Kraken were minus two key forwards, Jaden Schwartz and Andre Burakovsky. They, along with goalie Philipp Grubauer, remain out week-to-week on injured reserve.
If Seattle is to have any chance to break their losing skid Tuesday, they'll need their "A" game - at least. Over each club's last 10 outings, the Panthers are averaging 3.3 goals per game, the Kraken 2.3; Florida is allowing 2.1 goals per game, Seattle 3.0. Riding a three game winning streak, the Panthers have moved into 2nd place in the Atlantic Division.
We discuss how Florida has ascended into the NHL elite, and whether their model is one Seattle can emulate, with THN Panthers site editor David Dwork. Those topics and more in this Kraken Reaction conversation.
