Ducks Extend Win Streak With 4-2 Victory Over Kraken

The Anaheim Ducks continued their remarkable turnaround Friday night, skating to a 4-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena. The win marked Anaheim’s sixth consecutive triumph, a streak that comes on the heels of a grueling nine-game skid just weeks prior. The Ducks, despite missing several key players, managed to outplay a Kraken squad still searching for answers in front of their home crowd.

With puck drop at 7 p.m. PST, fans who tuned in on KONG or filled the seats in Seattle expected a competitive Pacific Division clash. Both teams entered the contest riding the momentum of recent wins—Anaheim fresh off a 2-1 shootout victory over the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche, and Seattle having snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-1 win over the New York Islanders. But from the opening faceoff, the Ducks wasted no time asserting themselves.

It took just over a minute for Anaheim to strike. Cutter Gauthier, who’s been heating up after a four-game drought, opened the scoring at 1:02 of the first period. The play began with Pavel Mintyukov forcing a turnover as Seattle attempted to enter the offensive zone. Jeffrey Viel quickly picked up the loose puck and found Gauthier, who charged down the right wing, slipped past Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn, and fired a precise wrist shot past Philipp Grubauer. The early goal continued a frustrating trend for Seattle, which has now allowed a goal in the first five minutes in eight of its last nine outings.

Kraken head coach Lane Lambert, typically reserved in his assessments, didn’t mince words after the game. “I don’t have a logical explanation for an illogical event,” Lambert remarked. “That was the worst 40 minutes we’ve played all year.” His frustration was evident, and the numbers backed him up—the Ducks outshot the Kraken 12-3 in the opening period, dominating possession and dictating the pace.

Things went from bad to worse for Seattle midway through the first. With the Kraken on the power play and looking to even the score, Ryan Poehling intercepted a pass in the neutral zone, raced past Dunn, and beat Grubauer on a short-handed breakaway at 15:24. The goal was Poehling’s second in as many games, and it marked the fourth short-handed goal allowed by Seattle in their last five contests. “We have to find a way to create momentum instead of losing it, especially like that,” captain Jordan Eberle said postgame. The short-handed goals have become a glaring issue for the Kraken, who have now surrendered seven on the season—just one behind the league leaders.

Despite being outplayed early, Seattle showed signs of life in the second period. Jared McCann, a consistent offensive threat, took a drop pass from Eberle during a 3-on-2 rush and rifled a wrist shot into the upper left corner at 1:55, cutting the deficit to 2-1. The goal was McCann’s 19th of the season and provided a much-needed spark for the Kraken faithful.

But the Ducks answered quickly. Just over two minutes later, Chris Kreider capitalized on a power play opportunity, cleaning up a rebound in front of Grubauer for his 16th goal of the year. The sequence was set up by a delay-of-game penalty on Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans, and Anaheim’s special teams wasted no time making Seattle pay. “Obviously not our best first two periods,” admitted Kraken forward Shane Wright. “Just a little flat. We were turning pucks over and feeding into their transition, their offense.”

The drama continued midway through the second period when Anaheim’s Jansen Harkins was awarded a penalty shot after being hooked on a breakaway. Grubauer, who finished the night with 27 saves, came up big with a well-timed poke check, keeping the game within reach for Seattle. The stop drew a roar from the home fans and momentarily shifted momentum back toward the Kraken.

Seattle finally managed to break through again early in the third. Shane Wright threaded a pass between the top of the faceoff circles, finding Jaden Schwartz at the left post for a deft tip-in at 1:54. The goal brought the Kraken within one and set up a tense final frame.

With just under two minutes remaining and the Kraken pressing for the equalizer, Lambert pulled Grubauer for an extra attacker. But the Ducks’ defense held strong, and with 1:12 left, Mintyukov sealed the win with a long empty-net goal, his second point of the night. The final horn sounded with Anaheim outshooting Seattle 30-22 and the Ducks celebrating a hard-earned sixth straight victory.

For Anaheim, the win was even more impressive given the absence of several star players. Frank Vatrano (fractured shoulder), Leo Carlsson (lower body), Troy Terry (upper body), and Mason McTavish (upper body) all missed the contest. Yet the Ducks’ depth shone through, with Gauthier and Mintyukov each recording a goal and an assist, and goaltender Lukas Dostal turning aside 20 shots for the win. “We had a push at the end, but I don’t have a logical explanation for an illogical event. That was the worst 40 minutes we’ve played all year,” Lambert reiterated, summing up the frustration felt throughout the Kraken locker room.

Seattle, meanwhile, finds itself in a precarious position. The Kraken have dropped seven of their past nine games, including two overtime losses, and now sit just behind the wild-card cutoff with a 22-19-9 record. The team’s inability to start games strong and the rash of short-handed goals allowed have become persistent issues. “There’s a point in time where we have to figure this out,” Lambert said. “Players have to understand there’s a certain way to play, certainly at the start of the game, and we’ve got to be a lot better.”

There were some bright spots for Seattle. Jacob Melanson returned to the lineup after a stint in the American Hockey League and recorded a career-high 10 hits, providing a physical edge. Grubauer’s performance in net, including the penalty shot save, kept the Kraken within striking distance for much of the game.

Looking ahead, the Ducks continue their road trip with back-to-back games in Alberta, facing the Calgary Flames on Sunday and the Edmonton Oilers on Monday. The Kraken, meanwhile, will try to regroup as they host the New Jersey Devils on Sunday, hoping to snap out of their recent funk and get back into playoff position.

Friday night’s contest was a showcase of resilience for Anaheim and a wake-up call for Seattle. As the Pacific Division playoff race heats up, both teams know there’s little margin for error. For the Ducks, the question is whether this hot streak can carry them through a tough road stretch. For the Kraken, it’s about finding answers—and fast—before the season slips away.