The Seattle Kraken were back at practice Tuesday at the Kraken Community Iceplex preparing for Wednesday night’s game at Climate Pledge Arena against the Calgary Flames and for the gruelling schedule that follows.
It’s the fourth consecutive home game that Seattle benefits from their opponent having played the night before, and the front half of Calgary’s back-to-back is no walk in the park. It’s a “Battle of Alberta” match-up against their fiercest rivals, the Edmonton Oilers.
After going that full sixty, or more, the Flames will board an aircraft for Seattle where the Kraken will try to take full advantage.
Seattle has won two of the three previous home games this month against opponents who played the night before.
Flip the Script
That piece of information duly noted, no other team should be whining about the second year club getting an advantage, and all they have to do is look at the Kraken’s load in January.
Tuesday’s practice was important because there will be little time for any early in 2023. Starting with Wednesday night’s game, the next time Seattle has more than a single day off between games is January 22nd when they get a three day break from game action. Between now and then they play 14 times, including two back-to-backs, in 25 days.
Included in that span is a season-high seven-game road trip. After January 1st, eight of their eleven games during the stretch are in road buildings.
Wanna have a good idea how that playoff race is going? Check back on January 24th right before the Kraken play three games in four nights at home.
“There’s a lot of travel mixed in,” Kraken Head Coach Dave Hakstol said after practice. “We’ve got a good blueprint for our team in those situations, but this month, this stretch will be a little bit different because of the amount of time on the road.
“We have to find our practice time when we can,” Hakstol added. “Along that stretch I’ve got two or three days that look like practice days to me, if we can get two good practices during that short stretch especially on the road, those will be really valuable. Beyond that it’s going to be a mix of being sharp, being rested, and being ready for games.”
One day at at time.
Line-up
The line-up hasn’t changed based on Tuesday’s practice. Recently acquired forward Eeli Tolvanen remains the extra forward.
Radio host man Mike Benton noted the power play arrangements (below). The club has slipped to 21st in the NHL with a 21.2% success rate.
Alexander Wennberg
Daniel Sprong – Oliver Bjorkstrand – Matty Beniers
Justin Schultz
Jaden Schwartz
Jared McCann – Jordan Eberle – Andre Burakovsky
Vince Dunn
The penalty kill is next-to-last in the league at 68.9% and has given up four goals on nine opposing power play opportunities over the last four games. (That’s another story coming soon.)
