Slumping Kraken To Square Off Next Against Golden Knights As Long Road Trip Continues

The Seattle Kraken hit the weekend reeling from their third consecutive loss — . And their next five opponents are going to be tough to beat, leaving the very real possibility Seattle will fall further behind in the Pacific Division Stanley Cup playoff race.

The Kraken are just getting over a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the lowly Chicago Blackhawks Thursday. And their next five opponents are going to be tough to beat, leaving the very real possibility Seattle will fall further behind in the race to lock up a Stanley Cup playoff spot.

The Kraken begin the weekend with a road game Saturday against the Vegas Golden Knights. Seattle beat Vegas 4-3 in overtime Nov. 8 in Seattle, but the Golden Knights are the best team in the Pacific Division for good reason, and their home record of 12-3-0 is particularly intimidating. Vegas also is 7-2-1 in their past 10 games, and they’re 10-2-1 in their past 13 games. And Seattle also has a new player of note in right winger Kaapo Kakko. Kraken GM Ron Francis explained how the deal came about:

Once the Kraken are done with Vegas, their next opponent is Colorado, a team Seattle already lost to twice this season in late October and early November. This time, though, the Kraken take on the Avs the day after they play Vegas, so Seattle’s determination is going to be tested.

And after that, the Kraken enjoy the holiday break before they square off against Vancouver on the road. The Canucks’ home record of 6-7-4 reveals an opportunity for the Kraken to improve on their current road mark of 7-9-0.

Related: Kraken Hit Home Run With Acquisition Of Former New York Rangers Young Star Kakko

In any case, after taking on the Canucks Dec. 28, the Kraken face Utah two days later. And then, in their next game on Jan. 2, Seattle hosts the Canucks. The Kraken get two more games against the Canucks this season — once on March 1 in Seattle, and once in Vancouver April 2. Regardles of the details, the Canucks will provide a tough test for the Kraken.

If the Kraken are going to get into a playoff berth this season, they’ll have to do well in stretches like the one that’s coming up for them. Any more extended stumbles, and Seattle will have their destiny taken out of their hands this season. And that very likely will spell “no playoff hockey” for the Kraken his year.