The Seattle Kraken might have two wins against the Vegas Golden Knights this season. But there are some stipulations to this. One, both wins came before Bruce Cassidy was around. Two, one of those wins was in October.
So it makes sense that the Golden Knights would be the favorites heading into Thursday's matchup. The Golden Knights have won four straight games since John Tortorella arrived on the scene. As for the Kraken? Well, they've turned into the NHL's version of the Seattle Mariners, losing six straight games.
I mean, just look at this graph between the two teams regarding their direction. One team has won a Stanley Cup and added another Stanley Cup Final appearance while the other only has... one Stanley Cup playoff appearance.
Vegas vs Seattle expansions, from back in January
— Travis Yost (@travisyost) April 9, 2026
Just the polar opposite pic.twitter.com/NTevgwNV6A
Makes you wonder who the better expansion story is, eh? Certainly, it couldn't come from the Pacific Northwest, where Bigfoot and octopuses in trees reside.
But Thursday's game also presents a "golden" opportunity for Vegas to continue its winning streak and add another. Not only that, but it gives the Golden Knights a chance to move closer to a Pacific Division title. Here's a look at how both teams are moving in opposite directions.
How the Vegas Golden Knights and the Seattle Kraken have headed in opposite directions
Starting with the Vegas Golden Knights, the team has flourished under John Tortorella. Since the new head coach came on board, the Golden Knights have won four straight games. Not only that, but they're outscoring their opponents in that span, 17-7.
Much of that can be attributed to a more aggressive attack. The Golden Knights aren't one to shy away from peppering the net with shots, as proven by their 130 shots on goal in the four-game span.
Meanwhile, the Kraken have only scored 10 goals during their six-game losing streak. That included a shutout at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers on March 31. Not only that, but they've also allowed 27 goals in that span, seeing a monumental defensive collapse before their very eyes.
That has prompted President Ron Francis to step down, leaving a massive organizational void. Now, the Kraken aren't as great an expansion story as initially thought. The team's quietly becoming a mess, similar to their baseball brethren. Hey, not everyone can be like the Seattle Seahawks, you know.
Still, that leaves a chance for the Golden Knights to make it five games in a row. If Vegas can turn on the burners early and keep Seattle on its toes, there's no telling how bad the beating will be. The Golden Knights are playing high-level hockey right now and would love to stick it to their expansion team rivals (if you want to call it that).