Another Bobby McMann goal not nearly enough for Seattle Kraken in loss to Lightning

Kate Shefte, The Seattle Times on Mar 18, 2026

Published in Hockey

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The Kraken spotted the Tampa Bay Lightning a three-goal lead on Tuesday night, then it was like they remembered they’re sitting on the playoff cutoff and need every win they can get right now.

Bobby McMann and Jared McCann got them back within a goal, then the Lightning pulled away. Nikita Kucherov’s third goal was an empty netter, and unlike the last few Kraken hat tricks at Climate Pledge Arena, this one stuck. The Lightning made off with a 6-2 victory.

Tampa Bay is 8-0-1 against the Kraken all-time and has never lost in Seattle.

On the plus side, McMann still hasn’t played a Kraken game in which he hasn’t scored. Matty Beniers leapt like a center fielder to keep the puck in the offensive zone and while falling to the ice, somehow tapped the puck directly to his linemate. McMann whipped a shot into the top-right corner to cut Tampa Bay’s lead to 3-1.

McMann has four goals and six points in the three games since he was acquired at the trade deadline from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Beniers still holds the record for the longest goal streak in Kraken history, scoring in five straight from Jan. 3-10, 2023.

The only active players with a longer goal streak to begin their tenure with a franchise than McMann are Evgeni Malkin (six) and Anthony Mantha (four).

McCann also scored in the second period. Then Tampa Bay’s Anthony Cirelli made the comeback harder, Brandon Hagel sank the dagger as a late power play expired and Kucherov provided the final flourish.

Former Kraken alternate captain Yanni Gourde got into a fight in his first game back at Climate Pledge Arena. He was traded to the Lightning at last year’s trade deadline.

It wasn’t two old friends squaring off, at least. Ben Meyers, a relative newcomer, played only seven games with the Kraken last year when he would have overlapped with Gourde. Meyers took exception to a Gourde open-ice hit and dropped the gloves with him during the third period.

Gourde was honored on the video boards, along with Oliver Bjorkstrand, a former Seattle All-Star who was a part of the same 2025 trade.

The Kraken were already down 1-0 on a Gage Goncalves goal when Shane Wright surprised old buddy Gourde with a welcome-home embrace, but the officials read it as holding and Wright got two minutes in the penalty box.

Seattle was seven seconds away from killing it convincingly when Ryker Evans tripped Hagel and extended the man advantage. Wright made up for the earlier misunderstanding by blocking a sure goal during that kill.

The second Lightning goal was clinical. Meyers lost an edge in front of goaltender Philipp Grubauer and the Lightning turned it into a quick 2-on-1 while he got back on his skates. Seattle defenseman Ryan Lindgren collapsed on Hagel, but unfortunately it was two-time defending Art Ross Trophy winner Kucherov at the back door. He made it 2-0.

The third Tampa goal was embarrassing. It was Kucherov again, with almost no resistance. Adam Larsson was defending the Seattle net, but tangled up with Kucherov and off balance until the Lightning star shook loose and tapped in an easy goal.

Kraken winger Eeli Tolvanen did not play due to an upper-body injury. Jacob Melanson took his spot in the lineup and Freddy Gaudreau moved up to Tolvanen’s spot on the second line.

The Kraken had won two straight before the Lightning loss, but both games were against teams well outside the playoff picture. Tampa Bay was a worthier foe, tied for third in points in the Eastern Conference.

The Kraken will head off on a potentially make-or-break six-game road trip that could either solidify their playoff spot or take them out of the running. They could also just tread water and hope for help from the teams behind them, as they’ve been doing since they returned from the Olympic break.