Kraken Stumble Early, Can't Recover

Seattle falls to Ottawa 7-4 as Jaden Schwartz suffers scary injury

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Seattle Kraken surrendered four goals to the Ottawa Senators before the midpoint of the game, leading to a 7-4 loss at home. The Kraken missed an opportunity to gain ground in the Western Conference wild-card race, as they remain in the second wild-card spot. The game was further marred by a scary injury to Kraken forward Jaden Schwartz, who left the game and did not return after a collision with an Ottawa player.

Why it matters

The Kraken's loss was a missed opportunity to improve their playoff positioning, as they remain just one point ahead of Nashville for the final wild-card spot in the West. The injury to Schwartz is also a major concern, as he is a key veteran leader for the team. The game highlighted the Kraken's struggles to contain the Senators' offensive pressure and capitalize on their own chances.

The details

The Kraken fell behind 4-1 by the midpoint of the game, with Ottawa scoring four unanswered goals after Seattle's fourth-line trio struck first. The Kraken managed just 21 shots on goal compared to 36 for Ottawa. A scary moment occurred late in the first period when Schwartz was injured in a collision, forcing him to leave the game. The Kraken did mount a late comeback, scoring two goals in the third period, but it was not enough to overcome the early deficit.

  • The Kraken struck first with a goal from their fourth line in the opening 20 minutes.
  • Ottawa scored two goals in the middle of the first period to take a 2-1 lead.
  • The Senators added two more goals in the second period to extend their lead to 4-1.
  • The Kraken scored two late goals in the third period, but it wasn't enough to overcome the early deficit.
  • The game was played on Saturday, March 8, 2026 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.

The players

Jaden Schwartz

A veteran forward for the Seattle Kraken who suffered a scary injury in the first period and did not return to the game.

Ben Meyers

A member of the Kraken's fourth line who scored the team's first goal of the game.

Ryan Winterton

A rookie forward for the Kraken who assisted on the team's first goal.

Jacob Melanson

A rookie forward for the Kraken who scored the team's first goal and provided a screen on another goal.

Linus Ullmark

The goaltender for the Ottawa Senators who made 17 saves in the win.

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What they’re saying

“Since Day 1, he's been a great leader for the organization. He's the guy you look up to, has been through a lot in his career.”

— Jared McCann, Kraken forward (nhl.com)

“The biggest thing is the confusion. You know, McMann/McCann. I think they're going to put us beside each other [in the locker room], probably. We're excited to have him. He brings a lot. He's a guy we all saw [rise to the NHL and become a 20-goal scorer]. He's been in the minors, been in the ECHL, right? He's a guy who's earned it. We're excited to have a guy who brings that speed.”

— Jared McCann, Kraken forward (nhl.com)

What’s next

The Kraken will look to bounce back on Tuesday when they host the Nashville Predators in a key playoff-type game.

The takeaway

The Kraken's loss was a missed opportunity to gain ground in the wild-card race, and the injury to Schwartz is a major concern. However, the team's young players like Melanson and Winterton showed promise, and the acquisition of Bobby McMann could provide a boost as the Kraken try to secure a playoff spot.