The Seattle Kraken are currently in a fierce battle to extend their season, heading into a pivotal match against the Calgary Flames. Following a dramatic come-from-behind win against the Vegas Golden Knights, where they overcame a two-goal deficit in the third period to secure a 4-3 shootout victory, their slim playoff aspirations remain intact.
Despite their recent success, the Kraken (with a record of 33-34-11 and 77 points) are still eight points adrift of the Los Angeles Kings for the final wild-card position in the Western Conference, with only four games left on their schedule. This means their postseason fate hangs by a thread; any misstep, or a point gained by the Kings or two by the Nashville Predators, will officially eliminate Seattle from contention for the third consecutive year. Meanwhile, the Calgary Flames (32-37-9, 73 points) have already been eliminated from playoff contention, having suffered an overtime loss to Dallas and a subsequent defeat to Colorado, who clinched the Presidents' Trophy. This upcoming game marks Calgary's final road match of the season before concluding their schedule with three home games next week.
The Flames and Kraken will meet for the third and final time this season, having split their previous encounters. Calgary previously secured a 4-2 victory in December, while Seattle triumphed 5-1 in January. Both teams will be looking to assert dominance in this last matchup, with the Kraken fighting for survival and the Flames aiming to end their road campaign on a high note. The determination displayed by the Kraken in their recent comeback victory against the Golden Knights serves as a testament to their unwavering spirit and commitment to their goal, demonstrating that even when faced with daunting odds, resilience and teamwork can pave the way for extraordinary achievements.