PRO RECAP: Losing skids in Seattle

SEATTLE – Both the Seattle Kraken and Seahawks are in the midst of losing skids, with the Seahawks losing three of four and Kraken dropping four of five. Check out this week’s professional sports recap for updates on the two teams.

Seahawks

After going on a four-game win streak earlier this season, the Seahawks have sputtered into losing three of their last four games – and the lone win came on a last-minute touchdown to defeat the then-3-9 Los Angeles Rams.

Seattle found itself down 17-0 to the Carolina Panthers just under three minutes into the second quarter on Sunday, courtesy of quarterback Geno Smith’s third interception in the past three games and a stalled drive the next time the Seahawks possessed the ball. Panther quarterback Sam Darnold found receiver Shi Smith for a 13-yard score and running back Chuba Hubbard later crossed into the endzone on a two-yard run.

Smith’s second interception – making it the first two-interception game of the year – led to another Carolina score to make it 20-7. The Panthers used their run game to win the time of possession battle in the second half (18:40-11:20), eventually cutting short a Seattle comeback attempt.

The Panthers became the fourth team in a row to run for at least 160 yards against Seattle’s second-worst run defense in the NFL, gaining 223 yards and two touchdowns on 46 attempts. Carolina had averaged 143.2 rushing yards per game over its past six outings, and its 223 yards against Seattle was its second-most of the year.

Over the past four games, the Seahawks have yet to cross the 100-yard mark in the run game, the closest being a 90-yard day against the Rams. Seattle rookie running back Kenneth Walker III missed Sunday’s contest with an ankle injury, and the team only managed 46 yards on the ground against Carolina without him.

The Seahawks, now 7-6, are now outside of the playoff picture and behind the 7-5-1 New York Giants. The schedule doesn’t lighten up for the Seahawks, who host the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday. San Francisco’s top-ten rushing offense totaled 189 yards the last time the two teams met in Week 2, a 27-7 win for the 49ers.

Kraken

Since Oct. 29, the Seattle Kraken has been quite a streaky team – Seattle won five straight, then lost two, then won seven straight before dropping another three straight.

Despite jumping out to a 1-0 lead on defenseman Adam Larsson’s third goal of the year late in the first period against the Washington Capitals, Seattle allowed four goals in both the second and third periods and lost 4-1 for its third-straight loss.

Washington out-shot Seattle 38-26 on Friday night, also winning 25 of 44 faceoffs.

Seattle got back in the win column against the Florida Panthers on Sunday, winning 5-2 thanks to a three-goal third period. Already up 2-1 after left wing Andre Burakovsky’s go-ahead goal in the second, right wing Jordan Eberle, right wing Daniel Sprong and center Yanni Gourde all scored in the third period giving the Kraken a 5-1 lead.

Against the Lightning on Tuesday night, Seattle surrendered three Tampa Bay goals in under three-and-a-half minutes that quickly put the game out of reach. The Kraken ended up falling 6-2 to Tampa Bay, making it their fourth loss in the previous five games.

Compared to the 3.6 goals allowed per game during their seven-game win streak – which is inflated by a 9-8 win over the Los Angeles Kings – the Kraken are allowing 4.2 goals per game over their past five outings. The 2.8 goals allowed per game average during November games is up to 3.8, and goals scored is down from 4.25 to 2.3.

Up this week for the Kraken is a road trip to Carolina on Thursday followed by home matchups against Winnipeg on Sunday and St. Louis on Tuesday.