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Seattle Kraken's Early Lead Overturned by St. Louis Blues: What Went Wrong?

The Seattle Kraken entered the game with a 1-point lead but ultimately fell to the St. Louis Blues with a final score of 4-1. The Kraken's season record now stands at an uneven balance, while the Blues improved their standing, reflecting their strong performance on home ice.


Apr 14, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Seattle Kraken defenseman Adam Larsson (6) looks on with center Matty Beniers (10) and left wing Andre Burakovsky (95) during the thrid period of a hockey game against the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-USA TODAY Sports

In front of a packed crowd at Enterprise Center, the Seattle Kraken opened the scoring early in the first period, setting an optimistic tone for their fans. However, that would be the only time they managed to get past the Blues' goaltender who saved 19 out of 20 shots on goal throughout the game. Despite having three powerplay opportunities and maintaining even strength throughout most of the match, Seattle struggled to capitalize further.


The Kraken's defense faced relentless pressure from a determined St. Louis offense that fired off 28 shots over three periods. The home team managed to turn around their fortunes dramatically in third period by netting three goals against Seattle's goaltender who had made an impressive total of 24 saves before succumbing to this late-game onslaught.


Apr 14, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Blues Interim Head Coach Drew Bannister looks on during the third period of a hockey game against the Seattle Kraken at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-USA TODAY Sports

Seattle’s offensive efforts were stymied by St. Louis’ solid defensive play which blocked a significant number of attempts – totaling 18 blocked shots – and won more than half (58 percent) of faceoffs compared to Seattle’s 42 percent win rate in this crucial aspect of play.


Despite taking fewer penalties than their opponents and delivering fewer hits (11 compared to St. Louis’ more physical game with 18), it was clear that puck possession and shot conversion were key factors contributing to this tough road loss for Seattle.


Apr 14, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas (18) takes the face-off against Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers (10) during the third period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-USA TODAY Sports

Looking ahead, fans can catch The Seattle Kraken as they continue their campaign on April 17th when they visit Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg for another challenging matchup away from home soil. This upcoming contest will be available for viewing on ESPN+ via internet streaming or through ROOT Sports NW television broadcast starting at precisely midnight UTC time zone.

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