First Two Periods Often Pointless For Seattle Kraken

Editor's Note: The Surgeons General of both the U.S. and Canada have determined that viewing the goals chart below may be unhealthy for the young, elderly, infirm, and Seattle Kraken fans.

Seattle Kraken coach Dave Hakstol often cites the perils of having to "chase the game" - hockey slang for falling behind, thus having to abandon optimum playing styles in an attempt to catch up.

Yet a strange manifestation of the Kraken troubles scoring has cropped up time after time - poor starts. Here's what Hakstol had to say following Wednesday's 5-2 loss to the L.A. Kings.

"Our energy was much better in the 3rd (period). That's the energy that we needed to start the hockey game with. Some of the physicality that you saw come out in the 3rd period needed to be more directed in the start of this hockey game."

That same lament has been heard so often lately, you might think the needle on the record player has skipped (look it up, kids).

Indeed, the Kings game marked the eighth time since the beginning of March in which Seattle has failed to score in either the 1st or 2nd period.

In fully half of their last 16 games, all losses, the Kraken have gone scoreless prior to the 3rd period.

Another sign of offensive anemia has been a shocking absence of even-strength goals. Starting with a 2-1 home loss to Washington March 14, Seattle has gone 11 straight without multiple even-strength goals against anyone not named Sharks or Ducks, two of the bottom three teams in the NHL.

Overall, the Kraken have declined from number four in the NHL in goals per game last year to 29th this season. In addition to figuring out whether the current roster is capable of more offense than they showed in 2023-24, Kraken management will also have to find a formula for faster starts.

"Chasing the game" has chased the Kraken right out of the playoff hunt.