SEATTLE -- Philipp Grubauer is week to week with a lower-body injury, Seattle Kraken coach Dave Hakstol announced Thursday.
Seattle’s No. 1 goalie was injured in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning at Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday when he lunged to his right to stop an Anthony Cirelli shot off a 2-on-1 rush in the final minute of the second period. Grubauer immediately crumpled to the ice and struggled to get up, favoring his right side. When the period ended, he was hunched over while gliding to the bench, then limped down the tunnel. He did not return for the third period.
Grubauer is 5-9-1 with a 3.25 goals-against average and .884 save percentage in 17 games this season.
It is unknown if he will be back in time for the 2024 Discover NHL Winter Classic. The Kraken (9-14-7) are hosting the outdoor event against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Park on Jan. 1.
Grubauer helped Seattle reach the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, when it lost the best-of-7 series to the Dallas Stars in seven games. He had a 2.99 GAA and .903 save percentage in 14 postseason starts.
Joey Daccord has a .958 save percentage in three starts (2-1-0) for the Kraken since Grubauer’s injury, including a 7-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks at Climate Pledge Arena on Thursday. He got his first NHL shutout in a 4-0 win against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, helping Seattle end an eight-game skid (0-6-2).
The Kraken placed Grubauer on injured reserve Saturday and recalled Chris Driedger from Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League on Sunday. Driedger has backed up Daccord the past three games.
