Vince Dunn and Jared McCann led the Seattle Kraken to a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders at Climate Pledge Arena on Wednesday, ending a four-game losing streak. Philipp Grubauer made 24 saves for the Kraken, who had been struggling with six losses in their last seven games. The Islanders' Anthony Duclair scored eight goals in the past eight games, but couldn't prevent the loss. New York's seven-game road trip ended with a 3-3-1 record.
The game saw Seattle commit seven penalties, but they managed to kill the next six Islanders power plays after Duclair's goal. Coach Lane Lambert emphasized the need to stay out of the penalty box, and the Kraken's goaltender performed admirably. The Kraken tied the game at 1-1 with a deflection by Matty Beniers off Dunn's shot, and Dunn later scored a wrist shot from the slot to make it 2-1. Kaapo Kakko added a goal for Seattle, and McCann sealed the win with an empty-net goal.
This victory was particularly sweet for Lambert, who defeated his former team for the first time since his firing by the Islanders in 2024. He expressed relief at the win, stating that it felt better to get a victory than to beat a former team. The Kraken's win secured their ninth comeback win of the season and the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
Dunn's performance was notable, as he became the first defenseman in franchise history with 50 career goals. The game also saw the Kraken's strong performance in backchecking, which was praised by both Lambert and Roy. The Islanders' forward Anders Lee acknowledged their mistakes, particularly in passing and backchecking, which led to the Kraken's goals.
