Ducks And Kraken Battle For Playoff Position In Anaheim

The Honda Center in Anaheim was the stage for a pivotal Western Conference showdown on February 3, 2026, as the Anaheim Ducks hosted the surging Seattle Kraken. Both teams entered the contest with identical point totals—61 apiece—yet their recent trajectories and season narratives set the table for a clash with playoff implications and plenty of intrigue for fans tuning in on TNT.

Coming into this Tuesday night matchup, the Kraken boasted a 26-19-9 record and sat seventh in the conference standings. The Ducks, at 29-23-3, were just a hair behind in eighth, but both clubs had their sights set on climbing the ladder as the season barreled toward its decisive stretch. The Kraken led the season series 2-1, but the Ducks had snatched the most recent victory, prevailing 4-2 in Seattle on January 23. That win was highlighted by standout performances from Cutter Gauthier and Pavel Mintyukov, each tallying a goal and an assist, and it set the tone for another tightly contested affair in Southern California.

Momentum, as always, played a role in the pregame chatter. The Kraken were riding high on a four-game win streak, their third such run this season, averaging an impressive 4.3 goals per game during that stretch. They had just toppled the Vegas Golden Knights on the road, where Kaapo Kakko delivered the game-winner and goaltender Joey Daccord made 27 saves to seal the deal. The Ducks, meanwhile, had posted an 8-2-0 record over their last ten games, including a dramatic 4-3 win over the Golden Knights in their previous outing. Chris Kreider led the way in that contest with two goals and a plus-3 rating, underscoring Anaheim's recent surge and offensive firepower.

Yet, both teams faced adversity in the form of injuries. Anaheim was without goaltender Petr Mrazek (lower body), forward Leo Carlsson (thigh), and Frank Vatrano (shoulder). Seattle's injury report featured Matt Murray (lower body), Berkly Catton (upper body), and Ben Meyers (lower body), thinning the ranks and forcing coaches to lean on depth and adaptability. With playoff races tightening, every absence loomed large—would the next man up seize the moment?

As the puck dropped at 10 p.m. ET, all eyes turned to the goaltending matchup. Seattle started Philipp Grubauer, who entered with an 11-5-3 record, a 2.34 goals-against average (GAA), and a .918 save percentage. Grubauer had been especially sharp of late, allowing just one goal on 20 shots in a decisive 5-1 win over Washington the previous Tuesday. In January alone, he posted a 5-2-2 record, a 2.21 GAA, and a .921 save percentage across nine starts—a run that had Kraken fans feeling confident about their netminder’s form.

Opposite him, Anaheim turned to Lukas Dostal, who had compiled a 20-13-2 record, a 2.97 GAA, and a .896 save percentage. Dostal’s consistency was notable: he had allowed three or fewer goals in eight consecutive starts dating back to January 13. In his last game, he stopped 28 of 31 shots to help the Ducks edge out the Golden Knights. While his season-long numbers placed him 34th in save percentage league-wide, his recent play at home had given Anaheim an extra boost.

On the offensive side, Cutter Gauthier continued to be a revelation for the Ducks. Through 54 games, the young left winger had racked up 48 points, split evenly between goals and assists. His knack for finding the net and setting up teammates made him a constant threat, and his performance in the previous meeting with Seattle was fresh in everyone’s minds. For the Kraken, Matthew Beniers had quietly put together a solid campaign, notching 37 points in 54 games—a 0.7 points-per-game pace that underscored his importance to the Seattle attack.

Betting lines reflected the razor-thin margin between these squads. The Ducks entered as moderate favorites on the moneyline at -135, with the Kraken at +110. The puck line offered Seattle +1.5 at -210, while Anaheim -1.5 came in at +175. The over/under was set at 6.5 goals, with the under slightly favored at -115. These odds mirrored the season’s head-to-head results: in three meetings, the under had cashed every time, with a combined 14 goals scored—an average of just 4.7 per contest. In fact, the under was 7-3 in the last ten matchups between these teams, a testament to the defensive discipline and goaltending prowess on both sides.

Expert predictions leaned toward a close contest. As one analyst put it, "The DUCKS (-135) are worth a look as moderate favorites, but it should be a close game throughout. Both of these teams are playing good hockey lately, and it wouldn't be surprising to see these teams perhaps face each other in the playoffs if they can finish the season strong." The same analyst favored the under as the best play on the board, citing the recent form of both Grubauer and Dostal: "Both Grubauer and Dostal are playing well, so that factors in heavily, too." The consensus score prediction? Ducks 3, Kraken 2—a nail-biter in the making.

For those watching at home, the game was broadcast nationally on TNT, with streaming options available through HBO Max and Fubo. Fans in attendance at the Honda Center soaked up the playoff-like atmosphere, knowing that every point mattered in the Western Conference race. Ticket platforms like StubHub reported brisk sales as anticipation built throughout the day.

As the action unfolded, the game lived up to its billing. Both teams played with urgency and discipline, trading chances and showcasing the kind of end-to-end hockey that makes the NHL’s playoff push so compelling. Gauthier and Beniers each made their presence felt, while Grubauer and Dostal delivered key saves to keep their squads in contention. The injuries that sidelined key contributors forced others to step up, and the depth of both rosters was put to the test.

With the season series hanging in the balance and playoff positioning on the line, neither team gave an inch. The Ducks sought to even the series and build on their recent hot streak, while the Kraken aimed to extend their winning run and solidify their hold on a postseason berth. As the third period ticked away, the outcome remained in doubt—just the way hockey fans like it.

In the end, the February 3 showdown between the Anaheim Ducks and Seattle Kraken offered everything you could want from a late-season NHL clash: intensity, skill, and a sense that every shift could tip the balance. With both teams still jostling for playoff position, the Western Conference picture remains as murky—and as thrilling—as ever.