Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

I had to say “start better” and not “Start better and stay better”.

That’s on me, guys. I take responsibility for this one.

Here is what I am required to refer to as Highlights

Game Notes

Your TOI leader was Brandon Montour, with 21:37 logged.

Well. They started better. They controlled shots for a little bit, they had the lead for a little bit. They even looked like the better team. But only for a little bit. I was even okay with the first goal they let up! It’s a power play goal with a screen out front; that happens, even the best give up a goal like that. Simple defensive breakdown while down a man. The problem is that the Seattle Kraken then proceeded to play like that, as if both down a man and coming off of a bad defensive breakdown, for the entire rest of the game. It was an effort that completely nullified all of the good will those first ten minutes had built and just replaced it with more ugly but necessary understanding. This is not good enough, because the team is not good enough.

Of course, that’s mostly with the benefit of hindsight. The Kraken had some momentum come from the refs calling back goals, but again, it was not enough. Where are you if you can’t even get the NHL refereeing corps ruling in your favor several times over and you still can’t turn that into a W?

The Penalty Kill made a bad game already considerably worse, and Utah feasted on it; going 3/6 while Seattle only got 3 chances at the power play and could not capitalize.

The Kraken showed an awful lot of traits that I thought that Lane Lambert had attempted to drum out of this team; non-committal defense, disorganized play…I gotta imagine he’s not happy about this.

Joey Daccord finished his night with an .806 SV%. It’s about right for where the Kraken are at this point.

Hey, if you wanted the Kraken tanking, they moved up a spot with this most recent loss. Tankathon currently has them set at 6.0% odds for both the 8th overall pick and the first overall pick.

I’m going to be watching the post-season press conference very carefully. That, perhaps more than the draft lottery or the offseason, is what I’m most interested in.

Was there anything good about this game?

Jordan Eberle remains an incredible talent. He got the opening goal!

Bobby McMann has returned to scoring. He got the 2nd one on a funny bounce!

Tankathon likes our odds for a top ten pick! That isn’t necessarily great news but for the future it is something!

The Chartz, via NaturalStatTrick.com

This is just unconscionable defense from a team that keeps talking about how much they want to be the defensive team.

The Kraken return on Saturday night, where they face the Chicago Blackhawks. That game is at 7pm.

We’ll see you there.

Keep Calm, and Post Zoidberg When We Win.