Do the Seattle Kraken really want to overtake the Los Angeles Kings for 3rd place in the Pacific Division? They’re getting mighty close to doing just that. The Kings have lost three game in a row and take on the loosey goosey, shinny playing Vancouver Canucks on Monday night. A loss for LA coupled with a Kraken victory over the Arizona Coyotes and we have a tie for the 3rd slot in the Pacific Division.
The Kraken have the tie-breaker. Good news? Nope. 3rd place likely means opening the playoffs against the hottest team in the NHL, the Edmonton Oilers. Unless of course, the Oilers pass the Vegas Golden Knights for 1st place. That’s not out of the question with just two points separating the top two teams. Seattle will play a part in it. They finish the season with two games head-to-head against the “Vegas Born”.
For now the Kraken have locked up the top Western Conference wild card spot and if they stay there, they’ll play either the Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, or Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. It’s starting to look like the Avalanche, having taken over the Central Division lead with three games to play.
Root TV reports Philipp Grubauer will start for the Kraken on Monday night in Arizona.
Kraken Coverage Beats The League
It’s not a surprise to us. The NHL site Monday posted a story in its headlines “Toews Treating Final Games As Last: Report” with reference to Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews telling a newspaper reporter he’s done in Chicago.
Well jeepers, he told ‘the little engine that could’, “Simmer’s Morning Skate” that very thing, apparently in an exclusive for Seattle Kraken and Vancouver Canucks fans, on-camera during the morning skate on Saturday.
That was a couple weeks after Dallas Stars head coach Pete DeBoer broke news for us about Tyler Seguin’s injury.
As an aside, with Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland as a game day guest on March 18th, Simmer predicted the Oilers would win the Stanley Cup. They’ve been the hottest team in the NHL since acquiring defenseman Mattias Ekholm. They haven’t lost in regulation since March 11th.
Among other things, Ekholm has had a calming effect. The Oilers used to run around in their own end and get trapped on a consistent basis.
Again, the Kraken should avoid Edmonton in the first round. Should Seattle pull off an upset in the first round and catch the Oilers later after potential injuries occur … who knows. So many scenarios in a wild playoff season.
Coming Up:
— Jordan Eberle named NHL 2nd Star of the week.
— More on Joey Daccord’s appearance and the potential for a crazy twist.
— Game report tonight.
Enjoy the Hockey Action !!
