Flames vs. Kraken preview: The Calgary Flames and Seattle Kraken meet Sunday at Climate Pledge Arena in their second regular-season matchup, with Calgary searching for its first win of the 2026-27 season. Seattle won their first meeting, 6-1, in preseason on Oct. 2.
Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET, with the game streaming on ESPN+, Prime Video (Local) and airing on KONG and KHN. The biggest question is whether Calgary’s defense, which has allowed 6.00 goals against per game, can slow down a Kraken team that has scored six goals in its regular-season opener.
Flames vs Kraken game information
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Venue: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
- TV/Streaming: ESPN+, KONG, KHN, Prime Video (Local)
- Season series: Seattle leads 1-0 in head-to-head results this season
How bad has Calgary’s start been?
The Flames are 0-1-0 and sit last in the Pacific Division with zero points. Calgary fell to Seattle 6-1 in their preseason finale on Oct. 2. The Flames have scored just one goal in their last meeting with the Kraken while managing a league-worst 4.0% shooting percentage on the season, according to ESPN’s season team statistics.
Forward Jonathan Huberdeau is on injured reserve after hip surgery, per ESPN, with an expected return date of Oct. 10. The Flames’ average of 6.00 goals against per game is the biggest concern.
Who starts in goal for Seattle and Calgary?
Dustin Wolf is listed as the probable starting goalie for Calgary, while Joey Daccord is projected to start for Seattle, according to the official NHL data. Daccord opened the season by stopping 24 of 25 shots in Thursday’s 6-1 win over the Flames, falling 3 minutes, 25 seconds shy of a shutout before Ryan Strome scored from the left circle, per CBS Sports. Daccord also picked up a secondary assist on Chandler Stephenson’s goal in that game and carries a .960 save percentage through Seattle’s first outing this season.
Wolf faces a tall order behind a Flames defense that has surrendered 32 shots in its opener and posted an .813 team save percentage. If Wolf gets the call, as projected, he will be tasked with keeping Calgary in a game its skaters have struggled to generate offense in against this opponent.
Seattle’s injury report
The Kraken are without forward Jake O’Brien, listed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury and an expected return date of Oct. 6, and forward Jacob Melanson, on injured reserve with an upper-body injury and a projected return of Oct. 17, according to Yahoo Sports. Despite the absences, Seattle is 1-0-0.
Key matchup: Calgary’s shooters against Daccord
The clearest matchup to watch is Calgary’s offense against Daccord, who has allowed just one goal on 25 shots this season. The Flames rank at the bottom of the league in shooting percentage at 4.0%, while Seattle’s goaltending has posted a 1.00 goals-against average through its first game. Ryan Strome leads Calgary with one goal and one point, and he is the only Flame to beat Daccord so far this season.
Seattle’s offense, led by Vince Dunn’s three points and Jared McCann’s three assists, has found a rhythm early, converting at an 18.8% shooting clip. If Calgary cannot solve Daccord and tighten a defense allowing six goals per game, the result could again come down to how much support Wolf gets from his own skaters.
What to watch
Calgary has not beaten Seattle yet this season. A loss Sunday would leave the Flames winless in the Pacific Division’s early standings. The Kraken are trying to stay unbeaten while integrating a lineup missing two regulars to injury. Both teams’ goaltenders, Wolf and Daccord, will be under early-season scrutiny given the shot volume each has faced.
For more on this matchup, see the Kraken vs. Flames goalie duel preview and the Flames vs. Canucks breakdown.
Seattle’s goaltending is also examined in the Kraken vs. Oilers preview.
Reporting from Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports, FOX Sports and ESPN contributed to this story. Official statistics: ESPN (official league data).
