Kraken Sweep Weekend with 6-2 Win Over Panthers

Third and fourth lines lead the way as Seattle moves back into second wild-card spot in the Western Conference

Mar. 16, 2026 at 2:38am

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The Seattle Kraken earned a convincing 6-2 win over the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Sunday evening, with goals from four different so-called "bottom six" forwards. The Kraken's third and fourth lines provided the offensive spark, as Ben Meyers, Berkly Catton, Ryan Winterton, and Kaapo Kakko all found the back of the net. Starting goaltender Joey Daccord had a strong night in net, stopping 14 of 15 shots. The win moves the Kraken back into the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference, just three points behind Utah for the first wild-card position.

Why it matters

The Kraken's weekend sweep, including Saturday's 5-2 road win over the Canucks, has them firmly in playoff position as the race for the Western Conference wild-card spots heats up. The team's depth scoring from the third and fourth lines was a key factor in the victories, providing a boost beyond just the top-six forwards.

The details

The Kraken jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first period, with goals from Ben Meyers, Ryan Winterton, and Berkly Catton. Meyers' goal came on a deflection after a skilled play by defenseman Ryker Evans and a centering pass from Freddy Gaudreau. Winterton then scored late in the period, cleaning up a rebound after a shot from Meyers clanged off the post. Catton's goal came on a nice individual effort, lifting the puck over the goaltender after a pass from linemate Kaapo Kakko. The Kraken continued their strong play in the second period, with Kakko and Catton combining for another goal to make it 4-1. Trade deadline acquisition Bobby McMann scored on the power play in the third period, his third goal of the weekend with his new team.

  • The Kraken jumped out to a 3-1 lead after the first period on Sunday, March 16, 2026.
  • The Kraken extended their lead to 4-1 in the second period on Sunday, March 16, 2026.
  • Bobby McMann scored on the power play in the third period on Sunday, March 16, 2026.

The players

Joey Daccord

The Kraken's starting goaltender, who stopped 14 of 15 shots and earned his 19th win of the season.

Ben Meyers

A Kraken forward who scored the opening goal of the game on a deflection.

Berkly Catton

A Kraken rookie forward who scored the team's third goal of the game, lifting the puck over the goaltender.

Bobby McMann

A trade deadline acquisition for the Kraken who scored a power-play goal in the third period, his third goal of the weekend with his new team.

Kaapo Kakko

A Kraken forward who had a strong game, scoring a goal and adding an assist.

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What they’re saying

“When the Kraken sputtered a bit coming out of the Olympic break, coach Lane Lambert flat-out said the top three forward lines needed to start playing and scoring like their fourth-line teammates.”

— Lane Lambert, Kraken Head Coach (nhl.com)

What’s next

The Kraken will host the Eastern Conference-leading Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, March 18, 2026, in a tough matchup as they look to continue their push for a playoff spot.

The takeaway

The Kraken's depth scoring from the third and fourth lines was a key factor in their weekend sweep, providing a boost beyond just the top-six forwards and highlighting the team's ability to get contributions from throughout the lineup as they battle for a playoff spot in the tight Western Conference wild-card race.