![\"NHL:](\"https:\/\/images.deadspin.com\/tr:w-900\/28479522.jpg\")
Mar 12, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken forward Shane\u00a0Wright (51) skates against Colorado Avalancheforward Jack\u00a0Drury (18) during the first period at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\nDespite a 2-6-0 record since the Olympic break, the Seattle Kraken somehow held on to the Western Conference’s second and final wild-card playoff spot.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n That is, until Thursday night.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Kraken suffered a 5-1 home loss to Colorado while San Jose won at Boston, putting the Sharks into a postseason position.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Seattle will look to regain that spot and its momentum when it plays Saturday at Vancouver, a squad which has the fewest points in the league.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “We’re falling out of the playoffs right now, so (we’ve) got to figure it out and hopefully claw our way back,” Kraken center Chandler Stephenson said. “Put some points together.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n This will be the fourth and final regular-season meeting between Cascadia rivals. The teams split shootout decisions on Dec. 29 and Jan. 2, the Canucks winning the former 3-2 in Seattle and the Kraken taking the latter 4-3 in Vancouver.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The host Kraken won 5-1 on Feb. 28 as captain Jordan Eberle had two goals and an assist, Stephenson contributed a goal and two assists and Joey Daccord made 27 saves.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n That last matchup opened a six-game homestand for the Kraken. They followed that up with an emotional 2-1 victory against Eastern Conference-leading Carolina, but have lost four straight since.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Kraken allowed three first-period goals against Colorado on 15 shots, with coach Lane Lambert pulling Daccord after 20 minutes.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “It was not any reflection on Joey,” Lambert said. “Our team needed a wake-up call.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n <\/p>\n “You can’t spot that team that many goals. We’ve gotta wake up. We’re doing things that are absolutely mind-boggling to me. It’s gotta stop.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Kraken are still awaiting the debut of forward Bobby McMann, acquired from Toronto at the March 6 NHL trade deadline. McMann’s visa paperwork is still being processed.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “It’s extremely disappointing right now, the uncertainty,” said Lambert, who is familiar with McMann from his time as a Maple Leafs assistant prior to joining the Kraken this season. “We traded for him for a reason, to help our hockey club. Having him not be available to help our hockey team hurts our hockey team.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Canucks are 2-4-2 since the Olympic break after a 4-3 shootout victory Thursday against visiting Nashville.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Defenseman Filip Hronek scored the tying goal with 1:01 remaining in regulation as Vancouver rallied from a 3-1 deficit.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “We needed this one,” said Hronek, who also had an assist. “We entered the game with a really good effort and then somehow we got scored on. I’m really happy that we didn’t give up and battled back.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Marco Rossi had a goal and two assists, Brock Boeser added one of each and Nikita Tolopilo made 16 saves — then stopped all three Nashville tries in the shootout.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Jake DeBrusk converted his shootout attempt to give the Canucks the victory.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “It’s a boost of confidence, for sure,” Hronek said. “It’s never fun to keep losing so it’s really good that we get that taste of winning. Hopefully we can build on it.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n