Happy New Year, Kraken fans. As the Seattle Kraken roll into 2026, it is time for the January update of the Strive for 95 points series.
The Kraken stumbled into December on a three-game skid to close November. They aimed to right the ship, but the turnaround took longer than expected. Seattle went 1-9-1 over an 11-game stretch, earning just three points. That tied the worst 11-game run in franchise history. The previous stretch came during the inaugural season from Feb. 14, 2022, through March 8, 2022.
Seattle opens January at home against the Nashville Predators, beginning the third of four straight back-to-back sets. The Kraken finally broke through with a second-leg back-to-back win on Dec. 23, the first time they had done that in more than a year and a half. They have also earned points in each of their last three back-to-backs, collecting four total points across those three games. That is a trend worth monitoring.
December recap
There is no sugarcoating December. The losing streaks playfully dubbed Losing Streak Camille and Cynthia by the Sound Of Hockey Podcast were not kind to Seattle. As losses piled up, the Kraken slid down the standings and were tied for last in the NHL in points from Dec. 19 through Dec. 21.
Panic followed, much like the elves in my favorite Christmas movie when Santa was seen (bonus points if you can name the movie). In that moment, Steve steadied the North Pole and guided them through a Level 3 gift wrap incision. The Kraken did the same, closing December on a 4-0-1 run and climbing from last place to two points out of a wild-card spot with games in hand. By points percentage, Seattle currently ranks eighth in the Western Conference and would hold the final wild-card position. The playoff race is very much alive.
A closer look at December shows only one truly poor outing, a 9-4 loss to Edmonton. Seattle has historically struggled against the Oilers, holding a 4-13-1 lifetime record in the series. Teams have off nights, and this one fits that category. Outside of that game, the Kraken went 5-6-1 over their other 12 contests.
Head coach Lane Lambert emphasized defensive structure, and it showed. Excluding empty-net goals, all 12 of those games were decided by a single goal. Seattle lost more than it won, but consistently played tight, competitive hockey. That approach should translate over the long haul and turn close games into points more often than it did in December.
Between the pipes
Seattle received strong goaltending throughout December. The lack of wins was not the fault of Joey Daccord or Philipp Grubauer.
Grubauer led the way with a .920 save percentage and a 2-3 record in five starts. Daccord posted a .908 save percentage with a 3-4-1 record. Both appeared in the nine-goal loss to Edmonton. If that game is excluded, Daccord’s save percentage improves to .926, while Grubauer’s rises to .935.
Joey Daccord
Philipp Grubauer
One of the biggest differences this season compared to previous years is consistency. The Kraken are playing the same style regardless of who is in net. That requires confidence in the goaltenders and a defensive structure that allows them to anticipate shots and manage rebounds.
Many believed Seattle should have bought out Grubauer’s contract during the offseason. Through the first half of the season, general manager Jason Botterill looks wise for holding onto him.
When asked by Darren Brown where Grubauer’s confidence level sits after a strong stretch, Grubauer said, “Just taking it one game at a time. Working with [goaltending coach Colin] Zulianello has been unbelievable. The support from the coaching staff is always huge.”
Target win percentages
December’s target was 16 points. The Kraken fell short, earning 11 points. They now need to make up five points over the next three and a half months.
This update includes games through Feb. 5 due to the Olympic break from Feb. 6 through Feb. 24. The March update will cover Feb. 25 through March 31. With the standings tightly packed, the playoff cut line could fall below 95 points, but the Strive for 95 pace remains the benchmark. Below are the updated target win percentages needed to maintain a 95-point pace.
Updated tiers
This season has made tiering difficult with so many teams clustered together. In the Eastern Conference, every team sits above .500 and within six points of a playoff spot. The Western Conference shows slightly more separation, though much of the conference remains tightly packed behind Colorado, Dallas and Minnesota.
Bolded teams are teams the Kraken play this month. ‘x2’ indicates the Kraken face that team twice. Up and down arrows show teams that moved between tiers.
Notes on tier movement
Playoff Bound tier
Minnesota moves into this tier. The Wild made headlines by trading for superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes. Since the trade, Minnesota is 6-1-1 and holds the third-best record in the NHL. Colorado and Dallas sit atop the league, completing a Central Division podium sweep.
Bubble tier
Buffalo joins the bubble after a 10-game winning streak to close December, moving into the final wild-card spot in the East. New Jersey welcomed back Jack Hughes from a hand injury on Dec. 21, but the Devils have failed to gain traction, going 1-3-1 since his return. Nashville enjoyed an outstanding month, collecting 10 wins, moving them to just one point outside a wild-card spot. Calgary also moves up a tier after finding its stride, rattling off nine wins in December. Calder Trophy runner-up and former Everett Silvertips goaltender Dustin Wolf started eight of those nine victories.
Tanker tier
Tanker teams: Chicago and Winnipeg slid to the bottom after a brutal December. The two teams combined for only five wins in December, two by the Jets and three by the Blackhawks. Chicago and Winnipeg both posted a .286 points percentage for the month of December.
January and early February breakdown
With the standings bunched, most of Seattle’s upcoming opponents fall into the bubble tier. That group accounts for 16 of the Kraken’s next 19 games. Seattle faces two Playoff Bound teams, hosting Minnesota before a road trip to Carolina. The lone tanker matchup is the season’s second meeting with Vancouver on Friday.
The Kraken closed December with a shootout loss to Vancouver in the second leg of a back-to-back. The Canucks did not look sharp in that game. Coincidentally, the Jan. 2 rematch also comes at the end of a back-to-back, giving Seattle a chance to respond after the shootout loss.
Of the 19 games leading into the Olympic break, Seattle plays 10 on the road and nine at home. A six-game homestand from Jan. 19 through Jan. 29 ties for the longest of the season. January is the busiest month on the schedule with 17 games. Including early February games, the Kraken face four back-to-back sets and will need continued strong play from their goaltending tandem.
The overall target for the month is 24 points in 19 games. Tier-specific targets break down as follows:
Playoff Bound: two points in two games
Bubble: 20 points in 16 games
Tanker: two points in one game
There’s always time for a bow
With the named losing streaks (hopefully) in the rearview mirror and a five-game point streak in hand, the Kraken look to start the new year on the right note against Nashville at Climate Pledge Arena.
As the league approaches the Olympic break, this stretch could shape Seattle’s approach to the March 6 trade deadline. With a three-week pause, general managers will have time to assess whether to buy, sell, or stand pat. If the Kraken remain in a playoff position or within striking distance, limited activity makes sense. A slide could push Seattle into seller territory. As John Barr recently pointed out in a Kraken Roundtable on the trade deadline, “If an opportunity arises to add a player like Jordan Kyrou, someone who fills a clear need and has meaningful term left on his contract, the Kraken should absolutely jump at it.”
The second half of the season sets up compelling storylines as separation in the standings begins to take shape. With games in hand and a track record of tight, competitive play, a playoff spot remains a realistic outcome for the Kraken.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Blaiz Grubic
Blaiz Grubic is a contributor at Sound Of Hockey. A passionate hockey fan and player for over 30 years, Blaiz grew up in the Pacific Northwest and is an alumni of Washington State University (Go Cougs!). When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about hockey, he enjoys quality time with his wife and daughter or getting out on a golf course for a quick round. Follow @blaizg on BlueSky or X.