10/11/26
By: Marcus Sledge
Seattle delivers a statement win as Alex Ovechkin begins his final NHL season.
The Seattle Kraken are starting to find their offensive rhythm, and Sunday’s 5-3 victory over the Washington Capitals was another reminder that this team can battle back when the pressure is on.
In a game featuring one of the NHL’s most iconic players, the Kraken overcame multiple leads and delivered when it mattered most. Alex Ovechkin, who recently announced that this would be his final NHL season, added another memorable chapter to his remarkable career.
For Seattle, though, this afternoon was about more than sharing the ice with a legend. It was about finding a way to win.
The Kraken traded goals with Washington throughout the first two periods, refusing to let the Capitals dictate the pace. Kaapo Kakko opened the scoring for Seattle, and Jordan Eberle answered after Ovechkin put Washington ahead, sending the teams into the intermission tied at 2-2.
Seattle kept pushing in the second period, with Frederick Gaudreau finding the back of the net to give the Kraken a 3-2 advantage. When Washington responded early in the third to tie the game at 3-3, the Kraken faced another test of their resolve.
This time, they had the answer.
Jared McCann delivered the biggest punch of the afternoon, snapping a 3-3 tie with a clutch goal late in the third period. With just over five minutes remaining, McCann found the opening he needed and buried the shot to put Seattle ahead 4-3.
Then came the insurance goal. Ryan Winterton broke free behind the Washington defense and finished a breakaway set up by Ben Meyers, putting the game out of reach and giving the Kraken some breathing room.
Joey Daccord was every bit as important as the scorers. He turned aside 33 shots, including 17 in the third period, as Washington pressed for the equalizer. His work between the pipes allowed Seattle to survive the Capitals’ late push and leave Washington with a hard-earned victory.
Ovechkin’s moment — and Seattle’s statement
There was another storyline hanging over this matchup: the final-season journey of Alex Ovechkin.
The Capitals captain scored his 930th career NHL goal, continuing to add to his record as the league’s all-time leading goal scorer. At 41, Ovechkin is playing his final NHL season, making every remaining appearance a little more meaningful.
While this game was played in Washington rather than Seattle, Ovechkin’s upcoming farewell tour will give Kraken fans another opportunity to appreciate one of hockey’s greatest goal scorers when he makes his final visit to Climate Pledge Arena.
For a fan base that has watched generations of hockey legends come and go, the chance to see Ovechkin one last time in Seattle will be special. His powerful shot, competitive fire and remarkable scoring legacy have helped define an era of NHL hockey.
But on this Sunday, the Kraken made sure the story belonged to Seattle.
Depth makes the difference
Perhaps the most encouraging takeaway was the balanced scoring. Kakko, Eberle, Gaudreau, McCann and Winterton all found the net, demonstrating that Seattle can generate offense throughout its lineup rather than relying on one line to carry the load.
That kind of depth can be the difference between a team that simply competes and one that consistently finds ways to win.
The Kraken showed resilience after falling behind, composure when Washington tied the game in the third, and the finishing touch needed to close out a tough road contest.
Final score: Seattle Kraken 5, Washington Capitals 3.
The Kraken head onward with another win, growing confidence and a lineup showing signs of clicking at the right time. Ovechkin may have provided one of the afternoon’s memorable moments, but Seattle provided the final word.
The Deep will be waiting for the next chapter — and when Ovechkin finally makes that last trip to Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle fans will have every reason to give a legend the welcome he deserves.
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