Kraken Prep
As expected, Martin Jones will get the start in net for the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night against the Nashville Predators at the Climate Pledge Arena. He’s been beyond solid in his last half dozen starts. Joey Daccord will back-up.
Based on extra skating at morning skate, it appears forward Jared McCann will miss his third consecutive game. Shane Wright also looks to be a healthy scratch. Kraken seventh defenseman Cale Fluery stayed on and skated with the aforementioned teammates.
The Kraken would love to start improving their home record. It’s 2-3-and-1 compared to 5-1-and-1 on the road. While we await puck drop this evening …
Let’s Skate !
It’ll be interesting to see how Seattle’s Pacific Division rival Vancouver Canucks perform as they start a five-game road trip on Tuesday night after comments on Monday by the team’s President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford. Obviously J.R. is not pleased with the 3-6-and-3 start to the season, and during a radio interview pointed mostly to systems and structure under Bruce Boudreau and the current coaching staff as the reason for the record.
The eastern trip begins in Ottawa against the 4-and-7 Senators. Both are in the basement of their respective divisions.
The Blues aren’t Singing
If you think Canucks or Senators fans have had it tough, try the patrons in St. Louis. The Blues have dropped seven games in a row following Monday night’s 3-1 setback to the Boston Bruins. This, after starting the season 3-and-0.
Of course, fans there learned in 2018-’19 never to panic; the Blues went from worst to first in winning the franchise’s first ever Stanley Cup. They did it under then interim head coach Craig Berube, who replaced current Canucks assistant coach Mike Yeo in November of that season. They had the worst record in the NHL at New Year’s.
Berube shouldn’t be in too much trouble this time around, he just signed a three-year contract extension in February of this year and is inked through 2024-’25.
By the way, Senators GM Pierre Dorian recently gave head coach D.J. Smith a vote of confidence in Ottawa.
U17’s in BC
The 2022 World Under-17 Challenge continues in Langley and Delta, BC through November 12th. The scores from Monday: Sweden came back to beat Canada Black 4-3 in overtime, Finland defeated Czechia 3-1, and Team USA handled Canada Red 5-2.
Enjoy the Hockey Action tonight !!
