Kraken Show Little Response To Ducks' Physical Play And Post-Whistle Altercations

A home-and-home against the Anaheim Ducks was one filled with physical play and post-whistle altercations, but too frequently, the Seattle Kraken seemed to shy away from it.

The Kraken defeated the Ducks in the first matchup in Anaheim 3-2. With the Kraken down 2-1 late in the second period, Kraken forward Tye Kartye laid a hit on Ducks young forward Leo Carlsson that knocked him into his own goal posts. Carlsson was injured on the play, leaving the game and not returning. Captain Radko Gudas attempted to fight Kartye but a scrum formed before they were able to do so.

The Ducks carried the animosity into the second game taking shots at Kartye and netminder Joey Daccord. The anger they brought into the game worked as they thrashed the Kraken 5-2.

With about 12:30 left in the third period, Jansen Harkins lost an edge and took out Daccord's legs from under him. His path was a bit unusual but determining whether it was intentional or not is impossible. The lack of response from the Kraken can be considered a bit concerning. Watching your starting goaltender take a hard fall courtesy of the opposition needs a response whether the infraction was intentional or not.

With five minutes remaining in the third period, the Ducks got their awaited revenge on Kartye. Harkins was involved once again, laying a cross-check to the back of Kartye knocking him to the ice. While he was down, Ross Johnston threw multiple punches to the head of Kartye. Eeli Tolvanen was tied up with former Kraken Brian Dumoulin but the only other Kraken player attempting to fight back and stand up for Kartye was the youngest player on the team, Shane Wright.

Adam Larsson, who's part of the Kraken leadership group and Ryker Evans were slow and late into the scrum. The lack of urgency to protect a teammate and young forward is alarming.

The Kraken are hoping to not only make the playoffs but make a run in the playoffs and as the games get more important moments like this will happen more often. The Kraken can't shy away from it and need to impose themselves in these altercations. If teams know they can do this to the Kraken, it'll only get worse.

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