Blues Aim for Playoff Spot Against Struggling Kraken

SEATTLE, WA — The St. Louis Blues, currently holding a Wild Card position in the NHL playoff race, are set to face the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, April 12, at 9 p.m. CT at Climate Pledge Arena. After a recent two-game losing streak, the Blues are determined to secure their playoff spot as they approach the end of the regular season.

The Blues (43-30-7) suffered a heart-wrenching loss to the Edmonton Oilers, dropping their second consecutive game after a franchise-record 12 wins. The Edmonton game ended with the Oilers netting a goal in the final 21 seconds, sealing the 4-3 victory. Despite the loss, the Blues’ top line of Pavel Buchnevich, Jordan Kyrou, and Robert Thomas showcased strong performances, each contributing multiple points. “We’re a good third-period team, we’re always in it,” said Thomas. “It’s unfortunate the way it ended.”

Heading into Saturday’s game, the Blues and the Minnesota Wild are tied for the final Wild Card position, both teams sitting at 93 points from 80 games. The Calgary Flames lurk closely behind with 90 points and one game in hand. With just two games left in the regular season, the Blues control their playoff fate; winning both ensures their postseason participation. “We’ve got two games to lock down where we want to be,” Thomas added. “We’ve got to get back to playing the right way and being dominant for 60 minutes.”

On the other side of the ice, the Seattle Kraken (34-40-6) are looking to end the season on a high note despite being eliminated from playoff contention. The Kraken are entering their final home stand of the season after a 2-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Jared McCann was the team’s lone scorer in that match and leads the Kraken with 60 points this season.

The Kraken’s offensive struggles have been evident, as they managed only four goals across their last three games, contrasting starkly with the 11 goals they scored in three games the previous week. Despite these challenges, the Kraken’s home record (17-17-5) compares favorably against their road performance (17-23-1). Historically, the Kraken have struggled against the Blues, winning only once in six meetings.

Kyrou has been a standout for the Blues recently, accumulating 17 points in his last 14 games, while Buchnevich has recorded scoring streaks, including a four-game goal streak. Meanwhile, McCann has been a reliable asset for Seattle, leading the team in scoring for three consecutive seasons since the franchise’s inception. Saturday’s game could serve as a prideful moment for the Kraken, who hope to play spoiler against a team in contention.

The matchup will be broadcast on various networks, including KONG in Seattle, and will kick off at 7:00 p.m. PT. The anticipation builds as the Blues look to stabilize their playoff hopes against a determined Kraken side.