SEATTLE — Those cheers from the home fans as Philipp Grubauer skated off the ice with 56 minutes still to play Friday night was as ominous a sound as any Seattle Kraken supporter wants to be hearing or making.
But there was no mistaking the sentiment; a combination of anger and frustration directed at a No. 1 goaltender who will end the 2022 calendar year much the same way he did 2021. Grubauer wasn’t the main reason for an embarrassing 7-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, but his three goals allowed on the only five shots he’d face signaled the improved Kraken still haven’t left their goaltending issues behind.
Daniel Sprong and Brandon Tanev scored for the Kraken, who at times trailed 4-0 and 6-1, but there was little for the announced crowd of 17,151 fans to cheer for beyond the goaltending pull as the home side took a third consecutive defeat. The Kraken fell to 18-12-4 with their eighth loss in 11 games and now trail the Oilers by two points – tumbling into fourth place in the Pacific Division.
