The Seattle Kraken get a much deserved three day break from the NHL playing schedule after Saturday night’s home tilt against the Colorado Avalanche, following a gruelling first three weeks of January.
They’ve come through it with flying colors and in first place in the Pacific Division with a record of 27-14-and-4.
“It’s readiness and whatever the schedule brings,” Kraken Head Coach Dave Hakstol said after the morning skate on Saturday. “Whether it’s a regular day-on, day-off schedule or a bunch of games coming at you, it’s the routine of being consistently ready to go. We did a really good job of that two nights ago, we were ready to go at the start of the game, we looked quick again, we had great energy, so we want to work to be able to duplicate that here tonight.”
Coming off a road trip in which the Kraken set an NHL record by winning all seven games, the team came home to a matinee loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday, a loss the next night back on the road in Edmonton, before picking up the win Hakstol referred to at home against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.
“We’re feeling good and we’re feeling confident,” Kraken forward Jared McCann said Saturday morning.
Kraken Injuries
Kraken defenseman Justin Schultz and forward Jaden Schwartz missed that game and they’ll miss the game Saturday night as well, both listed as day-to-day.
Kraken forwards Andre Burakovsky and Alexander Wennberg missed the morning skate.
“One of those guys I believe will play tonight, the other one will be a game time decision,” Hakstol said.
Meanwhile, Hakstol has to make a choice night-in and night-out involving two very solid options in net, a problem every NHL team would love to have. Philipp Grubauer gets the nod Saturday against his former club.
“Play the same as he’s played, he’s given us an opportunity to win each of his last few starts here, he’s done a really nice job, so we’re gonna need a real competitive performance from him tonight,” Hakstol stated. “Bottom line ‘Grooby’ has played well in his previous starts against his former team and it’s his night to go.”
Grubauer played three seasons with the Avalanche prior to joining the Kraken before last season.
Face off is little after 7 pm pacific.
