Kraken Regain Cryptid Cup With 4-2 Home Win Over Devils
By Jayd Serdy, edited by Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - The Sunday matinee for the Seattle Kraken wasn’t a perfect game, but it was a winning one. The Kraken flipped the script when it mattered, turning a tight game into momentum-boosting fuel for both the team and the crowd. After a frustrating loss to the Anaheim Ducks left head coach Lane Lambert “dumbfounded,” Seattle returned to its trademark defensive style while its fourth line made an impact to push past New Jersey.
The visiting Devils struck first with a power play goal from Dougie Hamilton at the 8:11 mark of the first period, giving New Jersey a 1-0 lead and a decent amount of momentum early on. While Seattle’s offense struggled to find its rhythm, playing from behind once again in January, New Jersey carried this edge throughout the first frame. Shortly after the goal, Kraken defenseman Ryan Lindgren and Devils forward Dawson Mercer dropped the gloves after Lindgren laid a clean hit on New Jersey forward Ondrej Palat. This fight led to quite a few penalties – Lindgren received five minutes for fighting, while Mercer received two for instigating, five for fighting, and a ten-minute misconduct. Seattle wasn’t able to capitalize on what could’ve been a momentum swing in their favor, and this game went into the first intermission with the Devils holding that one-goal lead.
The second period looked like somewhat of a track meet, as both teams allowed minimal space on the ice and were doing everything they could to keep the puck out of the net. Seattle defenseman Ryker Evans managed to sneak a goal in for the Kraken at 7:37, tying the game and reigniting the energy that the home side needed heading into the third period. That Evans goal doesn’t come without Seattle’s fourth line of Ryan Winterton, Freddy Gaudreau, and Jacob Melanson using a strong forecheck to ensure that New Jersey wasn’t able to evade danger.
Seattle Kraken skaters Ryan Winterton, Ryker Evans, Freddy Gaudreau, and Jacob Melanson celebrate a goal during the teams 4-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday, January 25th, 2026, at Climate Pledge Arena. (Photos by Bryant Garduque for Circling Seattle Sports)
By the time that the third period was underway, you could see the mounting frustration from both teams. Teammates were shouting, goalies were doing all they could to communicate with their team, and the crowd was getting antsy for the NFC Championship game taking place later that afternoon in Seattle.
Matty Beniers scored a second goal for Seattle at the 7:04 mark of the third and final frame, followed by a goal from fellow young forward Berkly Catton just 18 seconds later. Catton later said that he “just kind of threw it at the net, and kind of saw Chandler [Stephenson]'s hands go up, and that was a good feeling.”
Seattle Kraken forwards Berkly Catton and Chandler Stephenson after Catton’s third-period goal in the team’s 4-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday, January 25th, 2026, at Climate Pledge Arena. (Photos by Bryant Garduque for Circling Seattle Sports)
The Devils’ Jack Hughes, who head coach Lane Lambert referenced in his pre-game media availability, saying that the Devils are “extremely good on transition, especially with Jack Hughes,” scored an answering goal at the 8:14 mark on a power play while Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour was in the box for slashing. New Jersey pulled goaltender Jacob Markstrom late into the third as they attempted to tie things up at three goals each, allowing Seattle captain Jordan Eberle an opportunity to score on the empty net, ultimately calling a 4-2 game.
This was a better game from the Kraken compared to other recent games, but there is always room for improvement, especially considering the opponents that they’ll take on before heading off for the Olympic break. Seeing Seattle get back to more of their hard-nosed defensive game against a highly skilled New Jersey team, and with the fourth line continuing to leave their mark on games, there should be some confidence that the Kraken can continue to get results as we near the lengthy break. If Seattle is going to have any hope of keeping pace in the Pacific division for a playoff spot, the Kraken must stick to their defensive identity and capitalize on prime opportunities offensively when they’re presented.
Sights and scenes of the Seattle Kraken following the final buzzer after their 4-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday, January 25th, 2026, at Climate Pledge Arena. (Photos by Bryant Garduque for Circling Seattle Sports)
Quick Kraken notes, from Seattle PR
After today's 4-2 win, Seattle splits the season series with New Jersey and improved its record to 3-6-1 all time vs. the Devils.
The Kraken will finish out their six-game homestand on Jan. 27 (vs. Washington) and 29 (vs. Toronto) before heading to Vegas to start a three-game road trip.
With a goal in his 300th NHL career game, Matty Beniers extended his point streak to three games (2g/1a) and has recorded five points (3g/2a) in his last five games.
With 34 points (12g/22a) in 51 games, Beniers is three points shy of the pace he set (36 pts; 17g/19a) through his first 51 games of the 2022-23 season, in which he posted 57 points (24g/33a) and won the Calder Memorial Trophy.
If Beniers continues playing at this pace, he is expected to end the regular season with 55 points.
Beniers became the sixth player to skate in 300 games with Seattle, and has scored eight goals since Jan. 1, just one back from tying Jared McCann (9 in Nov. 2022) for the most by a Kraken player in a calendar month per NHL Stats.
After a two-point showing (1g/1a), Jordan Eberle now has points in consecutive games (1g/2a) and now shares the lead in points (34) with Beniers.
Berkly Catton recorded his second game-winning goal of the season. He becomes the third Kraken rookie to have two or more game-winning goals in their first season (also Beniers, 4g and Wright, 3g)
Ryker Evans netted his fourth goal of the 2025-26 campaign and is now one away from tying his career high.
What’s next?
Following this afternoon’s home win over the New Jersey Devils in the fourth contest of a six-game homestand, the Seattle Kraken have a day off scheduled for tomorrow ahead of their next game. That next game is Tuesday, January 27th, against the Washington Capitals, with a 7 PM PST puck drop, broadcast live on the Kraken Hockey Network (Amazon Prime Video) and KONG in local markets. The Capitals took the first of two meetings between the teams back on October 21st, a 4-1 final in the nation’s capital. Things haven’t gone well for the Capitals lately, losers of nine of their last 13 while dealing with a few banged-up names on the injury front. The Kraken have seen mixed results so far on this six-game homestand, splitting wins and losses through four games, so they’ll be looking to continue banking points ahead of the Olympic break, although it won’t come easy against this Capitals team before finishing things up against Toronto on Thursday. This game against the other Washington is the “DJ” Brandon Montour bobblehead giveaway, as the first 10,000 fans inside of Climate Pledge Arena will take home a special collectible of the Kraken defenseman at a DJ turn table, as presented by PitchBook.
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