The (12-11-6) Seattle Kraken returns to Climate Pledge Arena after just one win in five outings this month, beginning a two‑game homestand against the (13-14-4) Buffalo Sabers before facing Colorado on Tuesday. The Kraken have dominated the Sabres’ historically (7‑1‑0 overall, 3‑1‑0 at home) and enter the matchup with 30 points through 29 games, already ahead of last year’s pace.
The Kraken’s seven victories tied for the fourth‑most against any opponent in franchise history. However, the Sabres’ would muster up three goals to beat the Kraken, Sunday evening in downtown Seattle. Coming in with a fresh off a road win in Vancouver, the Sabres’ have struggled away from home, by going .500 in its last 10 games.
The opening period saw the Kraken start with energy, edging the Sabres’ in early shots and hits while controlling faceoffs through the first half of play. The Kraken’s physicality gave them a slight edge, but momentum shifted late as Adam Larsson was called for tripping, setting up Buffalo’s first sustained pressure. The Sabres’ capitalized at 2:45 when Noah Ostlund buried a wrist shot off feeds from Josh Norris and Alex Tuch, giving Buffalo the lead despite Seattle’s early push.
The second period featured swings in momentum as both teams traded chances and penalties. The Sabres’ struck first when Tage Thompson buried his 16th goal of the season off feeds from Peyton Krebs and Alex Tuch, extending the Sabres’ early edge. Seattle responded with stronger puck possession, winning the majority of faceoffs and upping its physical play, and capitalized midway through the frame when Chandler Stephenson scored his sixth of the year on a wrist shot assisted by Vince Dunn and Jordan Eberle. By the five‑minute mark, the Kraken had closed the shot gap to 13–11 and matched Buffalo in takeaways, while controlling the dot with 18 faceoff wins to the Sabres’ 13. Multiple penalties on both sides—including calls against Rasmus Dahlin and Josh Doan—kept the period choppy, but Seattle’s push ensured the game remained tightly contested heading into the third.
The Kraken continued to battle hard in the final frame, closing the shot totals to 23 apiece while maintaining an edge in hits (24–16) and faceoffs (25–21). Despite the Kraken’s physical play and control of the dot, Buffalo seized the decisive moments. Tage Thompson struck midway through the period with his 16th goal of the season, and Zach Benson later added insurance with a wrist shot assisted by Jack Quinn and Ryan McLeod. Though Seattle matched Buffalo in pressure and possession, the Sabres’ timely scoring proved the difference as they secured the road win, down the stretch of the match.
The Kraken will host the Colorado Avalanche at Climate Pledge Arena on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. While the Buffalo Sabres are set to play the Philadelphia Flyers at KeyBank Center, on Thursday, December 18, 2025. These teams will face each other just once more this season, at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
