Golden Knights Lose to Kraken, Extend Slide

Vegas falls 3-2 at home as Seattle's Kaapo Kakko scores late winner

Jan. 31, 2026 at 11:55pm

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The Vegas Golden Knights lost to the Seattle Kraken 3-2 at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night, extending their recent struggles. The Knights trailed 2-0 after the first period but tied the game in the second with goals from Ivan Barbashev and Mitch Marner. However, Kraken winger Kaapo Kakko scored the decisive goal early in the third period to give Seattle the victory.

Why it matters

The Golden Knights' loss continues their recent slide, as they've now dropped six of their last seven games after a strong start to the season. This comes as the team is battling for playoff positioning in the competitive Western Conference.

The details

Goaltender Akira Schmid made 20 saves for the Golden Knights, who fell to 25-15-14 on the season. The Kraken opened up a 2-0 lead in the first period before the Knights rallied to tie it in the second. But Kakko's goal early in the third proved to be the difference as Seattle held on for the victory.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 1, 2026 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
  • The Kraken took a 2-0 lead in the first period.
  • The Golden Knights tied the game 2-2 in the second period with goals from Ivan Barbashev and Mitch Marner.
  • Kaapo Kakko scored the game-winning goal for the Kraken at 3:18 of the third period.

The players

Kaapo Kakko

Winger for the Seattle Kraken who scored the game-winning goal in the third period.

Ivan Barbashev

Forward for the Vegas Golden Knights who scored one of their two goals in the game.

Mitch Marner

Forward for the Vegas Golden Knights who scored one of their two goals in the game.

Akira Schmid

Goaltender for the Vegas Golden Knights who made 20 saves in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We just couldn't find a way to get that third goal and take the lead. It's a tough one to swallow, but we have to regroup and get back on track.”

— Ivan Barbashev, Forward, Vegas Golden Knights (reviewjournal.com)

What’s next

The Golden Knights will look to end their recent skid when they host the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, February 4th.

The takeaway

The Golden Knights' loss to the Kraken extends their recent struggles, as they've now dropped six of their last seven games. This comes at a critical time in the season as the team fights for playoff positioning in the Western Conference. The team will need to regroup quickly to get back on track.