The Seattle Kraken played their worst game of the season Friday, a 4-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks at Climate Pledge Arena that wasn’t nearly as close as the score sounds.

The “worst game” remark? Not my words; the dismal analysis from Kraken coach Lane Lambert. “Terrible hockey game for our team. That was the worst 40 minutes we played all year.”

Then, channeling Star Trek’s Mr. Spock, “I don’t have a logical explanation for an illogical event. Nothing was going right. We couldn’t connect, we couldn’t make a pass.”

Lambert added he was “dumbfounded” by his team’s performance.

The Roll Call Of Kraken “Terrible”

(1) The Kraken gave up a goal on the opponent’s first shot for the sixth time – and now in back-to-back games. Anaheim’s Cutter Gauthier put Seattle in a 1-0 hole a mere 62 seconds into the contest.

(2) The Kraken gave up a shorthanded goal for the fourth game in the last five. As Lambert pointed out, defenseman Vince Dunn took a poor route getting back, failing to cut Ryan Poehling off at the pass.

Except for Philipp Grubauer’s exceptional save on the NY Islanders’ Casey Cizikas on Wednesday, Seattle would have given up a shorty in five straight games!

(3) Matty Beniers took Seattle’s first shot on goal, 27 seconds into the game. They wouldn’t get another until 12:01, off the stick of Jamie Oleksiak. Kraken fans could have been excused for turning their thoughts to Sunday’s Seahawks-Rams NFC Championship game.

(4) It used to be you’d go to a carnival to shoot at ducks for prizes. On their third goal Friday, a power play tally, it was the Ducks doing the rapid-fire shooting. Chris Kreider won the prize, converting Anaheim’s third high-danger chance within a 10-second span. You’d never know Anaheim’s power play was ranked 27th in the NHL.

(5) The Ducks, far hungrier for the puck, showed it again when Jansen Harkins broke in on goal in the 2nd period. All Seattle D-man Ryan Lindgren could do was bear-hug Harkins, which resulted in a penalty shot. As he did all night, Grubauer came to the rescue, poke-checking Harkins before the Duck could even attempt a shot.

Signs of Life

Down 3-1, the Kraken finally arose from their slumber in the 3rd period. Early on, Jaden Schwartz converted a pretty Shane Wright pass (Jared McCann had scored in the 2nd period).

Seattle pressed hard for the equalizer; if Adam Larsson’s shot had been an inch or two lower, instead of ringing the crossbar, Seattle would have gained a 3-3 tie they wouldn’t have earned.

Now What?

Glenn Dreyfuss: “How do you go about finding out the ‘why?’ You had a lot of reason to be proud of your team (in the 4-1 Wednesday win over New York). How do you find out why the team forgot the lessons that got them the win?”

Lane Lambert: “It’s a great question. We have a short-term memory here. In the 3rd period, we showed how we can play. We get back to work (Saturday), focus on the things that we do to have success.”

Answers better come quick; the Kraken host the New Jersey Devils at noon Pacific on Sunday with Seattle outside of a playoff position.

Earlier Kraken:

— Kraken Lose Key Battle To Penguins 6-3

Earlier Canucks:

— The Canucks Can’t Dump Management; Why Again??