Puck drop is scheduled for 10:00 PM EST (7:00 PM PST)
Venue: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
TV: ESPN+, KHN, ROOT Sports NW
A Pacific Division rivalry matchup closes out the night as the struggling Vancouver Canucks visit the playoff-positioned Seattle Kraken. Vancouver sits dead last in the Pacific (8th), well out of contention in a disappointing season plagued by injuries and poor goaltending, while Seattle (around 4th-5th Pacific) holds a wild-card spot or better with solid home play and balanced scoring.
Team Context
- Canucks: 18-33-7 (43 points), 8th Pacific / bottom Western Conference. Poor offense (2.53 GF/G, near league-worst), leaky defense (3.64 GA/G), weak road record (12-16-2 away), massive negative goal differential (-62+).
- Kraken: 27-22-9 (~63 points), 4th Pacific / Western wild-card contender. Balanced attack (2.81 GF/G), solid defense (2.93 GA/G), strong home form (14-9-5 at Climate Pledge), positive recent metrics.
Recent Form
Canucks are mired in a four-game losing streak, most recently falling 2-3 OT to Winnipeg on Feb. 25 (post-break; Nikita Tolopilo 25 saves but overtime loss; dropped to 2-6-1-1 in last 10). They’ve struggled mightily (2-14-4 in past 20), with low scoring and defensive breakdowns. February has been rough (0-2-1 in limited games).
Kraken snapped a two-game skid but showed resilience earlier; recent form around 6-4-0 in last 10. They lost to St. Louis 1-5 on Feb. 26 post-break but have been competitive at home. Seattle’s depth and goaltending have kept them in playoff hunts despite inconsistencies.
Injury Report
Canucks
- Thatcher Demko (G) – Hip, IR, out for season (major blow to netminding).
- Filip Chytil (C) – Facial fracture / IR, expected return ~Mar 17.
- Jonathan Lekkerimaki (RW) – OUT, long-term (Sep 15 return).
- Derek Forbort (D) – Undisclosed / IR-LT, ~Mar 30.
- Tyler Myers (D) – Day-to-Day / OUT (not injury-related or undisclosed; missed recent games, ~Mar 6).
- Guillaume Brisebois (D) – Lower-body, IR non-roster.
Vancouver’s blue line and goaltending depth severely thinned; reliance on backups like Tolopilo or Kevin Lankinen.
Kraken
- Ryan Lindgren (D) – OUT / Day-to-Day (undisclosed; questionable for Feb. 28).
- Matt Murray (G) – Lower-body / IR, expected return ~Feb 28 (game-time decision).
- Max McCormick (LW) – OUT (hip or other).
Philipp Grubauer or Joey Daccord expected in net; core forwards healthy.
Key Player Matchups
- Goaltending: Nikita Tolopilo / Kevin Lankinen (VAN – backups under pressure, high GAA) vs. Joey Daccord / Philipp Grubauer (SEA – .903 SV%, solid tandem). Edge heavily to Seattle.
- Top Lines: Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson–Brock Boeser–J.T. Miller (if healthy; primary drivers) vs. Seattle’s Jordan Eberle–Matty Beniers–Oliver Bjorkstrand (speed and finish). Pettersson needs to generate against Seattle’s structure.
- Scoring Depth: Canucks lean on Conor Garland, Pius Suter; Kraken’s depth (Eeli Tolvanen, Shane Wright emerging) overwhelms.
- Defense: Vancouver missing key pieces (Myers, Forbort); Seattle’s Vince Dunn, Adam Larsson anchor a mobile group.
Special teams: Kraken improved PP (22.4%) and PK (71-80%); Canucks struggle in both categories.
Series History (2025-26 Season)
Kraken hold edges in recent matchups; Seattle strong at home vs. Vancouver (60% win rate historically in series). Specific 2025-26 results favor Seattle in prior games.
Betting Trends
- Total: Canucks games trend low-offense; Kraken home games controlled.
- Other Trends: Canucks 4L streak, 2-6-1-1 last 10; Kraken 6-4 recent but 1-4 in some slumps. Seattle covers well at home vs. bottom teams; overs/unders mixed but under in defensive matchups.
The Kraken’s playoff push and home dominance make them the clear side against a depleted, slumping Canucks squad. Vancouver may get opportunistic chances via Pettersson/Miller.
Game Odds
Vancouver Canucks 5.5
Seattle Kraken – 166
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, February 27, 2026
