Dunn’s return provides hope for Kraken offense

“We have to sit down with everyone – maybe just the players – and somehow find a solution,” McCann said. “Of course we know that we can beat good teams. We proved it and we just have to get back to it.”

In order to achieve this, however, the team must stop giving the puck away too easily and better create second chances in front of the opponent’s net.

Kraken coach Dan Bylsma agreed that his team has been giving the puck away too easily in recent games and has been outscored 17-9 in three straight losses.

“I think the investment that we’re putting into the game and the schedule right now is not what it takes to be successful night in and night out,” Bylsma said. “And it doesn’t matter who the opponent is. I think we tiptoed into the game early on in this game. We wanted to see what happened next.”

He added that players and coaches “must take all responsibility for this.”

Bylsma liked what he saw from Dunn, pairing him and Brandon Montour on the same power play line for an unusual two-defender look. But these defenders are also two of the team’s biggest offensive opponents, whose combined presence can only help a team in need of additional offense in the coming games.

But for that to happen, Dunn agrees his team will have to play harder and be more precise.

“It sucks – it really sucks,” he said of the recent results. “We feel the pressure, but I think we have nothing to lose, nothing to feel sorry for. So we just have to go out and make it happen and come together here.”