Seattle Kraken 2-1 Shootout Loss to Columbus Blue Jackets: Three Takeaways

The Seattle Kraken fell just short in their matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night, dropping a heartbreaking 2-1 decision in the shootout at Climate Pledge Arena. Despite a valiant effort that saw the game extend beyond regulation, Seattle was unable to capitalize on home ice in what became their fifth overtime loss of the young season. While the Kraken secured a point in the standings, the result highlighted several concerning trends and a few bright spots worth examining as the team continues to navigate the early stages of their campaign.

The game showcased moments of brilliance alongside persistent struggles that have plagued Seattle throughout their recent stretch. From individual heroics to systemic issues that continue to hold the team back, this contest provided plenty of material for analysis. Here are the three takeaways from Seattle Kraken’s 2-1 shootout loss to Columbus Blue Jackets that define where this team stands as they push through their homestand.

Offensive struggles continue to haunt the Kraken’s scoring chances

The most glaring issue from the three takeaways from Seattle Kraken’s 2-1 shootout loss to Columbus Blue Jackets remains the team’s inability to generate consistent offensive production. Despite managing 23 shots on goal against Blue Jackets netminder Jet Greaves, Seattle could only solve him once in regulation—a stark reminder of the scoring drought that has become all too familiar.

Ryan Winterton provided the lone bright spot offensively, notching his second NHL goal in just his sixth career game. The young forward capitalized on excellent work from linemates Ben Meyers and Jamie Oleksiak, finishing off a well-executed passing sequence in the first period. This fourth-line trio, featuring Winterton alongside Meyers and Tye Kartye, was Seattle’s most dangerous combination throughout the evening—an indictment of the top lines’ inability to generate dangerous chances.

The power play continues to be a black hole for the Kraken’s offense, failing to convert on their opportunities and lacking the creativity needed to break down defensive structures. While Seattle had chances throughout regulation and overtime, too many shots came from the perimeter, allowing Greaves to see pucks clearly and make routine saves. The lack of net-front presence and second-chance opportunities has become a recurring theme.

Seattle’s offensive woes become even more concerning when viewed through the lens of their season-long struggles. The team has now scored two goals or fewer in seven of their last ten games, a trend that makes winning consistently nearly impossible regardless of how well the defense and goaltending perform. The inability to find secondary scoring beyond the fourth line in this contest exemplifies the depth issues plaguing the roster.

In the shootout, the Kraken’s shooters were unable to beat Greaves, with Charlie Coyle ultimately scoring the decisive goal for Columbus. The skills competition highlighted what had been evident all night—Seattle lacked the offensive creativity and finishing touch necessary to capitalize on quality goaltending and defensive effort. Until the Kraken can address these offensive deficiencies, games like this will continue to slip away despite competitive performances.

Matt Murray delivers stellar performance deserving of better fate

Among the three takeaways from Seattle Kraken’s 2-1 shootout loss to Columbus Blue Jackets, perhaps the most positive was the continued resurgence of goaltender Matt Murray. The veteran netminder was spectacular between the pipes, stopping 33 of 34 shots for a .971 save percentage—his best performance of the season and a continuation of his upward trajectory since returning to game action.

Murray was particularly sharp in the second and third periods when Columbus ramped up offensive pressure. He made several highlight-reel saves, including crucial stops during a Blue Jackets 5-on-3 power play opportunity in the second period where Columbus finally broke through with Adam Fantilli’s tying goal. Without Murray’s heroics throughout that extended two-man disadvantage, the deficit could have been insurmountable.

After the game, Murray expressed satisfaction with his progression, stating he’s felt better with each successive start. This marked his third appearance in recent games, and the improvement has been evident. His positioning, rebound control, and confidence in challenging shooters have all shown marked improvement compared to earlier in the season when he was working his way back from injury.

The former Stanley Cup champion kept Seattle in the game when offensive production dried up, giving his teammates every opportunity to find a winner in regulation or overtime. His performance was reminiscent of the stellar goaltending Seattle has needed during tight defensive battles, particularly during back-to-back situations or games where scoring chances are at a premium.

While Murray couldn’t stop either Blue Jackets shooter in the skills competition—ultimately giving way to Coyle’s winner—his regulation and overtime performance demonstrated he deserves increased playing time moving forward. If Seattle can solve its offensive problems while receiving this caliber of goaltending, the team has the foundation to string together more victories. Murray’s resurgence provides hope that the Kraken have found reliable goaltending depth behind starter Philipp Grubauer.

Special teams and situational play remain critical weak points

The final entry in the three takeaways from Seattle Kraken’s 2-1 shootout loss to Columbus Blue Jackets centers on the team’s continued struggles in special teams situations and key moments. Columbus’s lone regulation goal came during an extended 5-on-3 power play, showcasing both Seattle’s penalty kill vulnerabilities and their discipline issues that led to the two-man disadvantage.

While the penalty kill managed to survive most of the five-on-three situation, Fantilli eventually found space to tie the game, capitalizing on the numerical advantage when Seattle’s structure broke down. This goal proved decisive in a one-goal contest, demonstrating how single lapses in discipline and execution can derail otherwise solid defensive efforts. The Kraken must tighten their penalty kill systems and, more importantly, avoid taking unnecessary penalties that create these dangerous situations.

Seattle’s power play ineffectiveness continues to cost the team valuable points in the standings. The inability to convert man-advantage opportunities into goals puts additional pressure on five-on-five play and forces the team into tight, low-scoring affairs where any mistake becomes magnified. Against a Columbus team that entered the game struggling, Seattle’s power play needed to capitalize but failed to generate sustained pressure or quality scoring chances.

The overtime period showcased both teams playing cautiously, with neither willing to take chances that might lead to odd-man rushes the other direction. While Seattle had the better of the possession in the extra frame, they couldn’t generate the grade-A scoring chance needed to end the contest. This conservative approach, while understandable given the stakes, highlights the Kraken’s lack of confidence in their ability to score in critical moments.

In the shootout, Seattle’s inability to score on any of their attempts while Columbus converted through Coyle demonstrated another situational weakness. Skills competitions often come down to confidence and creativity—two attributes Seattle has struggled with during their offensive drought. These game-deciding moments require players who can finish under pressure, something the current roster construction appears to lack.

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The Seattle Kraken now find themselves at a crossroads early in the season, securing points but failing to close out winnable games. This shootout loss to Columbus, while yielding a standings point, represents a missed opportunity against a Blue Jackets squad that had been struggling entering the contest. The team’s inability to generate consistent offense remains the primary concern, overshadowing strong goaltending from Murray and generally solid defensive play.

Looking ahead, Seattle faces an immediate test against the Winnipeg Jets—a team they previously shut out 3-0 earlier this season. The Kraken need to rediscover the offensive rhythm that produced that victory while building on Murray’s strong performance and tightening up their special teams play. According to The Hockey Writers, the team’s strong start to the season represents arguably their best opening stretch in franchise history, making it crucial they don’t allow this offensive drought to derail their momentum. With eight games already decided in overtime or the shootout this season, Seattle must find ways to finish games in regulation and convert their competitive performances into two-point victories if they hope to remain in playoff contention throughout the campaign.