Kraken Fall to Wild: 3 Takeaways From a Less-Than-Stellar Showing
Seattle’s upward momentum took a harsh dip on Saturday when they faced the Minnesota Wild at Climate Pledge Arena
By Miracle Lucketti
Seattle, WA - Fans inside Climate Pledge Arena were treated to some vintage Seattle Kraken hockey (derogatory) when the team fell to the Minnesota Wild, 5 - 1. Minnesota seems to really have Seattle’s number – with the Kraken putting up a 4-11-0 all-time record against the fast-playing, defensively structured team, including eight straight losses to them at CPA.
Read on for three takeaways from a game that, admittedly, could have gone better for our Kraken team.
Starting strong is a start… but they need to stay strong.
The first period showed promise! Sure, the Wild were able to get a goal 26 seconds into the game when Kirill Kaprizov made it look a little too easy, but Seattle did a lot of good things to start this game. They were generating shots, battling for pucks, and they held the Wild to that single goal, despite several good looks.
10:13 into the first period, Berkly Catton was able to tie the game just one second after a Kraken power play ended. With the assistance of both Brandon Montour and Kaapo Kakko, Catton was able to bounce a wrist shot off Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt and, ultimately, into the net. “That was something we talk about with Monty,” Kakko commented after the game. “They have the pressure all the time, and there might be some time down low and closer to the net, and that's where I am on the power play. And that's a nice pass by him [Montour]. And I knew Berkly is coming down also, and then, just find him.”
It would be Seattle’s lone goal of the night.
Seattle Kraken forward Berkly Catton celebrates his first-period goal with his teammates against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, October 24th, 2026, at Climate Pledge Arena. (Photos by Eric Hiller for Circling Seattle Sports)
A new twist on the third-period breakdown: it happened in the second period instead!
Historically, Seattle has been known to struggle to play a full 60 minutes. This often shows most during the final 20 minutes of the game, but tonight, those third-period blues showed up a little early. “I think the first period wasn’t terrible,” said defenseman Vince Dunn. “And then the second period, it just kind of collapses.”
Seattle would surrender three goals in the period to a determined Minnesota team. “I thought the fourth goal really hurt,” Lambert said of the final Wild goal in the second. “It was just a short rebound there, especially after he [Daccord] had played very well during the penalty kill. But at the end of the day, we have to generate a little bit more offensively.”
Generating one shot on goal in an entire period does not good offense make. “I just don’t think we were in the offensive zone enough,” Dunn commented. “So we didn’t get enough shots.”
Kirill Kaprizov scored the opening goal of the game for the Minnesota Wild against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, October 24th, 2026, at Climate Pledge Arena. (Photos by Eric Hiller for Circling Seattle Sports)
Hit the pause button on the panic for now.
Yes, it was a bad game. Some would say a really bad game - but I don’t think it warrants a mass panic just yet. Things have been going well for our Seattle Kraken so far this season. They’re off to the strongest start in franchise history with a 7-3-1 record in the first 11 games.
“I think we’ve been pretty good lately with our games,” Kaapo Kakko told the media following the loss. “Get some time off, you know. And when we get back to the rink, just be ready. The next game is coming fast.” He continued, “I think we’ve been pretty good so far this year, and you can’t win them all, so, you know. I guess that’s all.”
I think both Kaako and Dunn have the right idea – things for this team have been clicking in their own unique way, and the wins show that. One bad game in an otherwise productive homestand thus far is no reason to panic… yet.
Third-period photos of the game between the Seattle Kraken and the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, October 24th, 2026, at Climate Pledge Arena. (Photos by Eric Hiller for Circling Seattle Sports)
What’s Next?
The Kraken will face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, October 28th, to wrap up the current homestand. Then they’ll jet off to Calgary to face the Flames on October 30th, before taking a five-day break. The Rangers will be in Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday, November 7th. The game will mark both Tye Kartye and Eeli Tolvanen’s first games back in CPA since Kartye was claimed off waivers and Tolvanen signed with the Rangers in free agency.
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