The Seattle Kraken's struggles continued as they suffered a 3-2 defeat at the hands of the St. Louis Blues, who are now just three points behind the New York Rangers for the third-worst record in the NHL. This loss marks the Kraken's second defeat in a row to the Blues, following a 5-1 drubbing in St. Louis earlier this month. But here's where it gets interesting: the Blues' early lead and the outstanding performance of their goalie, Joel Hofer, made it nearly impossible for the Kraken to turn the tide. Jaden Schwartz scored just 31 seconds into the game, and the Blues followed with three consecutive goals, leaving the Kraken struggling to catch up. Despite Vince Dunn's late goal, the Kraken couldn't close the gap, and the Blues' power play and pulled goalie strategy sealed the deal. Despite this setback, the Kraken remain in a playoff position, three points ahead of the San Jose Sharks, who have two games in hand. But will they be able to maintain this lead and secure a playoff spot? That's the question on everyone's mind. And this is the part most people miss: the Kraken's struggles against the Blues highlight a larger pattern of difficulty against the league's weaker teams. This raises an important question: are the Kraken truly a contender, or are they just a team that struggles against the competition? It's a question that will continue to be debated as the season progresses. So, what do you think? Are the Kraken a contender, or are they just a team that struggles against the competition? Share your thoughts in the comments below!