The Kraken win the 2025-26 Gauntlet

Seattle's bottom-shelf candle burns brightest of all

From 27th to the cuff

Two candles were left on the shelves, and both came from near the bottom. The Boston Bruins finished 28th of 32 last season. The Seattle Kraken finished 27th. To reach the final, Boston had snuffed the Sabres, Hurricanes, Red Wings and Devils. Seattle had doused the Golden Knights, Oilers, Jets and Ducks. At Climate Pledge Arena, one more loss would end a flame for good. The Kraken had shared the Gauntlet in 2023-24. This time only one name could go on the cuff.

Pastrnak keeps answering

Jordan Eberle struck first with a power-play wrister at 8:50 of the first. David Pastrnak answered with a wrister at 12:47. Berkly Catton's slap shot early in the second put Seattle back in front, and Pastrnak wristed home the equalizer again 3:40 later. The tie broke late in the second. Ben Meyers snapped one in at 18:23, and Jared McCann hammered a power-play slap shot at 19:59 for a 4-2 lead.

Kakko lifts the torch

Kaapo Kakko's wrister at 10:21 of the third went down as the winner. Catton backhanded a power-play goal at 14:20, but Boston kept swinging: Mason Lohrei scored 0:30 later, and Viktor Arvidsson converted on the power play at 17:38. Kakko finished it into an empty net at 19:48. Joey Daccord stopped 32 of 36 shots. Boston's flame went dark, and Seattle's was the last one burning.