On a chilly Monday night in Seattle, the Pacific Northwest rivalry between the Kraken and Canucks added another memorable chapter at Climate Pledge Arena. The Seattle Kraken, riding high on a four-game winning streak, put everything on the line in front of their home crowd but ultimately fell 3-2 in a dramatic shootout against the Vancouver Canucks on December 29, 2025. The game, broadcast on KING, KONG, and ESPN+, showcased all the intensity, grit, and unpredictability that fans have come to expect from these divisional foes.
Entering the contest, the Kraken boasted a 16-14-6 record and had dominated the Canucks in recent seasons with a 7-1-2 record since their breakout playoff run three years ago. The Canucks, meanwhile, had undergone significant changes, having traded captain Hughes to the Minnesota Wild just over two weeks prior. Despite embarking on a brief four-game win streak after the trade, Vancouver stumbled into Seattle on a two-game skid, sitting 16th in the Western Conference with 33 points. The Kraken, 10th in the West with 38 points, were eager to keep momentum rolling, especially after Eeli Tolvanen’s standout performance the previous night against Philadelphia.
The opening period set the tone for a wild night. Seattle wasted no time capitalizing on a 4-on-3 power play, with Vince Dunn winning a crucial face-off and setting up Jared McCann for a booming slap shot that beat Vancouver netminder Kevin Lankinen. It was McCann’s first goal since December 10, a welcome return to the scoresheet after an injury layoff. But the action didn’t stop there. Moments later, McCann caught a stray elbow from Conor Garland, sparking a spirited fight between the two. Both landed their share of punches, with McCann getting the upper hand before the officials sent them to cool off in the box. The bout amped up the crowd and both benches, foreshadowing the physical, high-octane battle to come.
“You’ve got to give him credit, he played well and made some big saves for them,” McCann said postgame, referring to Lankinen’s performance. “We peppered him and we played well. We did. We had some good opportunities offensively, hemmed them in their zone quite a bit. We should be proud of ourselves tonight.” According to FOX 13 Seattle, McCann fired three shots on net, scored once, and delivered a handful of haymakers, embodying the Kraken’s relentless approach.
Vancouver wasted little time responding. Off the face-off following the fight, Linus Karlsson pounced on a loose puck and beat Joey Daccord with a quick shot, knotting the score at 1-1 with just under five minutes left in the first. The period’s closing seconds brought more drama as Jacob Melanson, in just his ninth NHL game, picked up a loose puck near the benches and raced around the Canucks’ defense. As Tyler Myers and Elias Pettersson collided at the blue line, Melanson slipped a backhand pass to Ryan Winterton, who buried it past Lankinen for a 2-1 Kraken lead. The assist marked Melanson’s first career NHL point, with Daccord notching his fifth career assist on the secondary feed.
The Canucks, refusing to go quietly, found their answer in the second period. Vancouver’s star center Elias Pettersson sliced through the middle and snapped a shot past Daccord’s glove after a slick feed from Evander Kane, leveling the game at 2-2. The rest of the period was a goaltending showcase, with Daccord and Lankinen trading saves to keep the contest deadlocked.
As the third period unfolded, the Kraken turned up the heat, outshooting Vancouver by an eye-popping 19-3 margin in the third and overtime. Seattle’s offensive onslaught was relentless, with Eeli Tolvanen, Frédérick Gaudreau, and Jordan Eberle all generating dangerous chances. But Lankinen, whose .880 save percentage belies his heroics on the night, stood tall, turning aside shot after shot. Seattle’s 39 total shots marked a season high, a testament to their commitment to the attack.
Late in overtime, the Kraken seemed poised to snatch victory. Cale Fleury split a pair of Canucks defenders and drew a tripping penalty from Evander Kane, giving Seattle a golden 4-on-3 power play for the final 1:40. The home crowd roared as the Kraken poured on the pressure, but Lankinen made a pair of clutch saves, and Filip Hronek’s critical block on Eberle’s open-net bid preserved the tie. The game would be decided in the dreaded shootout.
In the shootout, both teams struggled to solve the goaltenders. For Seattle, Gaudreau, Tolvanen, and Eberle all failed to beat Lankinen, who was simply unbeatable when it mattered most. On the other end, Liam Öhgren delivered the only successful shootout tally, sneaking his shot past Daccord to seal the 3-2 victory for Vancouver. The loss snapped Seattle’s winning streak but extended their points streak to five games, a small consolation for a team that left everything on the ice.
Joey Daccord finished with 22 saves on 24 shots, adding yet another assist to his growing resume as one of the league’s more versatile netminders. His .902 save percentage and 2.8 goals-against average have been key to Seattle’s competitive edge this season. On the injury front, the Kraken were without Matt Murray, Brandon Montour, and Jaden Schwartz, while the Canucks missed Filip Chytil, Teddy Blueger, Guillaume Brisebois, and Derek Forbort.
For the Canucks, the win was a much-needed boost after two consecutive losses and a turbulent period following the departure of their captain. Conor Garland, who’s tallied 22 points in 31 games this season, played a pivotal role in energizing his team, even if his most memorable contribution was the first-period scrap with McCann.
The rivalry between these two clubs continues to grow, with each matchup delivering more drama and intensity. While the Kraken couldn’t extend their winning streak, their ability to dominate play and generate high-quality chances bodes well for their playoff aspirations. With local broadcasts on KING 5 and KONG, and national coverage on ESPN+, fans across the region and beyond were treated to a showcase of top-tier NHL action.
Next up, both teams will look to regroup and address their respective challenges as the season grinds on. For Seattle, the focus will be on turning dominant performances into two points, while Vancouver hopes to build on this hard-fought victory. One thing’s for sure: the next meeting between these rivals can’t come soon enough.
