Kraken’s Calgary loss exposes a problem beyond the penalty kill

Seattle left Calgary with more to repair than a bad special-teams percentage. The Flames beat the Kraken 6–2 on Friday, October 30, at Scotiabank Saddledome, turning an even game after one period into a decisive defeat. The next meeting will offer Seattle a direct test of its response.

A competitive start, then a costly separation

Freddy Gaudreau and Mackie Samoskevich scored for Seattle. Matt Coronato led Calgary with a career-best four points, combining a goal with three assists, while Joel Farabee contributed a goal and two assists. Dustin Wolf stopped 20 shots. Philipp Grubauer allowed four goals on 14 shots before Joey Daccord entered in relief.

The official scoring log places Calgary’s three second-period goals at 5:45, 8:43 and 10:40. That sequence broke the game open.

Samoskevich’s late second-period goal gave Seattle something to pursue, but Coronato answered early in the third. The practical consequence was severe: the Kraken had to recover a large deficit while Calgary could choose when to press and when to protect space.

Two opportunities, two goals against

Calgary converted both power plays. The Associated Press report carried by FOX 13 Seattle noted that the Kraken have conceded ten power-play goals in seventeen opportunities over their past six games. That is a sustained weakness across several opponents, rather than a single unfortunate evening.

Seattle had beaten Calgary 6–1 twice during the season’s opening week. Those earlier scores offered little protection Friday. A previous matchup can identify useful habits, but it cannot substitute for executing them against an opponent whose confidence and combinations have changed.

The documented criticism

In his October 30 Sound Of Hockey report, Blaiz Grubic traced Calgary’s even-strength scoring to missed chances to recover or clear possession. His account also questioned the lineup disruption around Curtis Douglas, who played just 4:29. Those are a named local writer’s observations, not a verdict attributed to every supporter.

Coach Lane Lambert’s assessment in the team’s postgame report was direct: “We’re not good enough right now, that’s it.”

Analysis: make the next pass easier

The first repair should be collective puck support. A defender under pressure needs a nearby option before the forecheck arrives. If the only escape is a hopeful puck around the boards, the receiving winger must have enough help to complete the exit. Otherwise, a clearance merely restarts the opponent’s attack against players already facing their own net.

Penalty killing needs the same connected approach. The objective should be to limit the first clean entry, prevent a second controlled touch through the middle and clear decisively after a recovery. A unit cannot rely on its goaltender to erase every missed assignment. Fewer penalties help, but two chances were enough for Calgary to do substantial damage.

Seattle also needs to respond earlier when pressure builds. Shorter shifts, a safe supported exit and a possession that makes Calgary defend can interrupt an extended spell of defending. Those are editorial priorities drawn from the game’s pattern; they are not a claim about instructions issued inside the dressing room.

What to watch next

The Kraken host Calgary on Wednesday, November 4, at 7 p.m. Pacific. The most useful benchmark is whether Seattle can complete exits and deny repeat attacks while the game is still close. A stronger final score would matter, but the route to it will show whether Friday produced a practical correction.

Rain City Sports editorial desk | Published October 31, 2026. Sources checked October 31, 2026. Image: illustrative Seattle scene.

Sources

• NHL official final and scoring log (checked 2026-10-31)
• Kraken official postgame report and Lambert comments (checked 2026-10-31)
• Associated Press via FOX 13 Seattle (checked 2026-10-31)
• Blaiz Grubic, Sound Of Hockey: three takeaways (checked 2026-10-31)
• Kraken official next home game (checked 2026-10-31)

Analysis and recommendations are the editorial desk’s interpretation. Reporting and attributed perspectives are linked above. Information is current as of the publication date.