The Carolina Hurricanes did themselves a big favor and the Seattle Kraken a small one when they stormed back from down three goals in the third period to eventually beat the Los Angeles Kings 5-4 in overtime on Tuesday night.
It meant the Kings picked up one point in the standings instead of two and are now tied with the Kraken with 63 atop the Pacific Division. Seattle however, due to four games in hand on Los Angeles, have a far superior winning percentage and are therefore the first place team entering the break.
That .643 winning clip for the Kraken is second best in the entire Western Conference, just .004 behind the Dallas Stars, the leaders in the Central Division.
Buenos Dias
What do a couple of goalies and a defenseman do on a quick swing through Mexico? Part of the time they catch fish. At least Kraken injured reserve goalie Chris Driedger hooked one, on a vessel with fellow puck stopper Philipp Grubauer and D-man Jamie Oleksiak. This, via Driedger’s instagram.
We mentioned a number of players and staff were zipping off to warm climes like Mexico and Hawaii. Good on ’em, as the second half grind will get cranking in less than a week. The Kraken return to action next Tuesday at the New York Islanders.
It’ll be three games in four nights and then four in six with a game against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday, the New York Rangers on Friday, and the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday.
The five-game roadie ends on Valentines Day, February 14th against the Winnipeg Jets.
Three Decades Strong …
… and three decades long. Wednesday marks 30 years on the job for NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. Like him or not, fans are watching the longest tenure of a president/commissioner in major sports history as the ‘Commish’ will pass former NBA boss man David Stern’s mark on Thursday.
Bettman worked for Stern in hoops world before taking the NHL job. In various roles, Seattle Hockey Insider has interviewed Gary dozens of times over the years. He even pulled off a little shtick, like this at the 2002 All-Star Game in LA.
No Kraken at this year’s All-Star festivities. They’re all fishing! And doing other stuff.
Enjoy the Hockey Action!!
