Three Takeaways – Jacob Markstrom stars for Devils, Kraken was cooking midway through the season

[Long exasperated sigh.]

At the official Midway through the season, the Seattle Kraken are unofficial cooked. They showed some promise over the holidays with a shocking comeback win against the Vancouver Canucks, followed by a solid 60th-minute win over the Utah Hockey Club. But, as has been the case all season, the second positive momentum starts to build, the wheels immediately fall off the wagon again, this time resulting in three consecutive defeats (0-2-1) to leave a ​four-game homestand. .

The latest Kraken loss came Monday at the hands of the New Jersey Devils, who came in after a four-game skid. While Seattle once again fought hard to remain a good (albeit struggling) team, a brutal response goal and some incredible saves from Jacob Markstrom ultimately sealed the Kraken's fate.

Here are three takeaways from a 3-2 Kraken loss to the Devils.

Takeaway #1: Jacob Markstrom wanted for grand larceny

Despite only facing 24 Kraken shots, the Devils netminder was the story of this game and rightfully earned the No. 1 star. This was one of those rare occasions where the question wasn't how much? but rather: how? Seriously, how the hell did he stop that one?

The first of his three best saves came late in the first period when the game was tied at 1-1. The Eeli Tolvanen/Shane Wright/Oliver Bjorkstrand line orchestrated a beautiful 3-on-2 build-up that ended with Bjorkstrand charging through the slot for as good a look as you can get. His snap looked destined for the top corner, but Markstrom stretched out to his left and went full street hockey to get a piece of it with his glove.

Freeway robbery by Jacob Markstrom on Oliver Bjorkstrand after a great build-up by Wright and Tolvanen.

He also just stopped Burakovsky during a breakaway. #ZeeKraken pic.twitter.com/u5GEmgfRYz

— Sound of Hockey (@sound_hockey) January 7, 2025

The other two robberies came in the third period, both with the Kraken pushing for a tie at 3-3. Wright and Tolvanen connected again for what looked like a surefire goal for Tolvanen, who was staring at a wide open net. Desperate, Markstrom lunged with his glove. With Tolvanen's body position and the puck in the air, he had no choice but to direct it back to Markstrom's big, open glove for another sensational save.

JACOB MARKSTROM, DIRTY DOG!

Real save-of-the-year candidate for Eeli Tolvanen. #ZeeKraken #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/MmSc3rkw5K

— Sound of Hockey (@sound_hockey) January 7, 2025

Minutes later, Markstrom created more magic when Matty Beniers tipped in a Kaapo Kakko shot and collected his own rebound, which he turned over Markstrom. If the goalie falls flat on his back, this floating puck would definitely fall into the net, right?

WRONG!

From the depths of hell (where the Devils reside), Markstrom reached out and somehow knocked the puck out of the air, maintaining the tenuous one-goal lead.

UPDATE: THIS is Markstrom's save of the year!

He hits it out of the air on Beniers from his back. #ZeeKraken #NJDevils https://t.co/lya7gIPBcW pic.twitter.com/kOZdolKvC5

— Sound of Hockey (@sound_hockey) January 7, 2025

After the game, New Jersey forward Paul Cotter struggled to put into words what he saw from his netminder.

A few left me speechless [the saves]. He saved me a few lines, Cotter said. I mean, without him there wouldn't have been a win tonight.

Markstrom added: It's a win, two points. I don't care how we do it. If I make five saves, twelve saves or forty saves, if we win, I'm happy.

Takeaway #2: The Dreaded Response Target

On Monday morning, Kraken coach Dan Bylsma emphasized how crucial the second goal of the match is. If you admit the former, can you answer? Or if you score first, can you increase the lead and take control of the game? Unfortunately, the Kraken rarely take advantage of this latter scenario, so if they allow the first goal, that's what they domustanswers.

Seattle did get the second goal in this game. Adam Larsson used a Jared McCann screen to his advantage, firing in a blind shot from the far post to tie the score at 1-1 at 15:47 of the first period.

But it could be argued that the fifth goal of this match was the most crucial goal. The Kraken did just now found the elusive equalizer at 1:24 of the third period when Shane Wright knocked in a perfect Kakko saucer pass on the power play to make it 2-2.

While scoring that second goal is critical, so is the next shift after any goal, and the Kraken seemed to forget that detail. Just 37 seconds later, Jack Hughes found Ondrej Palat in a weak spot in the slot, and Palat fired an off-the-grain shot past Philipp Grubauer's glove for the eventual game winner.

When asked if the Cotter goal with 24 seconds left in the second and the Palat reaction goal left Seattle empty, Bylsma said: Yes, I agree with you.

Takeaway #3: This already feels like the end

Maybe it's just an exaggeration and an overreaction to getting kicked while you're down, but this feels like the end of the Krakens' playoff chances for the season.

And there are still more than three months to go.

Yes, there is time for a miraculous hot streak, but realistically this team simply isn't good enough to string together a long winning streak. To beat good opponents, the Kraken must play 60 minutes of near-flawless hockey. While that may happen occasionally, it won't happen consistently enough to get back into the playoff race.

The Kraken are now seventh in the Pacific Division. At this rate, a last-place finish among the Ducks and Sharks is more plausible than a miraculous playoff berth.