Jets, Kraken Both Hope for Late Playoff Push

Two teams on the outside of the Western Conference playoff picture meet Monday in a crucial matchup.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 12:25am

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The Winnipeg Jets and Seattle Kraken, both currently outside the Western Conference playoff picture, will face off on Monday in a crucial late-season matchup. The Jets sit three points behind the Nashville Predators for the final wild card spot, while the Kraken are three points behind the Jets with a game in hand. Both teams have struggled on the power play recently, and the Kraken will likely split starts in goal between Philipp Grubauer and Joey Daccord.

Why it matters

This game is crucial for both teams' playoff hopes, as the Western Conference wild card race remains tight with six teams within six points of each other. A win could be the spark either team needs to make a late-season push for the postseason.

The details

The Jets have gone 5-2-0 in their last seven games, while the Kraken have struggled, going 1-6-2 in their last nine. Seattle never led in their most recent game, a 4-2 home loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour criticized his team's 'flat' and 'unacceptable' play. Meanwhile, Jets coach Scott Arniel knows his team needs to win out to have a chance at the playoffs.

  • The Jets and Kraken will face off on Monday, April 6, 2026.
  • The Kraken also play on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 against the Minnesota Wild.

The players

Connor Hellebuyck

The Jets' starting goaltender, who has started 17 of the team's last 19 games despite struggling with a .895 save percentage and 2.74 goals against average over that stretch.

Mark Scheifele

The Jets' leading scorer with 94 points (34 goals, 60 assists).

Kyle Connor

The Jets' leading goal scorer with 36 goals.

Jordan Eberle

The Kraken's leading scorer with 24 goals and 52 points.

Vince Dunn

The Kraken defenseman who shares the team lead in assists with 30.

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What they’re saying

“You've got to be playing your best hockey. And if you're not showing up each and every night, results are going to end up how they've been going .... Obviously we've dug ourselves in a pretty big hole, and that's on us.”

— Brandon Montour, Kraken defenseman

“We can't do anything about what's happening with the other teams. All we can do is take care of our own business. It may have to be we have to go 6-0 and win all six games (remaining). So, just focus on Seattle next.”

— Scott Arniel, Jets coach

What’s next

The winner of Monday's game will gain ground in the tight Western Conference wild card race, while the loser will fall further behind. The Kraken also have a crucial game against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday, so their goaltending situation will be worth watching.

The takeaway

This late-season matchup between the Jets and Kraken is a must-win for both teams as they try to claw their way into the Western Conference playoff picture. With the race so tight, every point is crucial, and the team that can find a way to win this game will give their postseason hopes a major boost.