The Calder Cup Final combatants, the Kraken affiliated Coachella Valley Firebirds and the Washington Capitals farm team Hershey Bears, fly from eastern Pennsylvania to southern California on Sunday to rest briefly before Monday night’s Game-6 at the sold-out Acrisure Arena. The Firebirds need to win to even the series at three games apiece.
If the Bears win the game, they’ll add to their all-time leading American Hockey League Calder Cup total, presently sitting at eleven. They’re the oldest franchise in the AHL, founded in 1938, taking on the youngest, the 1st-year Firebirds.
It’s definitely been the tale of two cities. The Valley boys won the first two games at home without relinquishing a goal, 5-0 and 4-0, before losing three consecutive one-goal hockey games in Hershey, 5-4 in overtime, 3-2 in regulation, and 1-0 in overtime.
If the home trend continues, the Firebirds will obviously be fine and would be crowned champions on Wednesday night following Game-7, but there’s little room for error at this point and obviously no guarantees.
Vegas Bash
Tens of thousands of Vegas Golden Knights fans and tourists lined the strip and surrounding streets on Saturday night as the Stanley Cup champions held their victory parade and rally. The procession started on Las Vegas Boulevard and was led by the team’s dance squad and drum corps. Buses carried the players past the fans before some of the Golden Knights disembarked and began high-fiving supporters. The players sprayed the crowd with champagne.
Following their Game-5 victory on home ice to clinch Lord Stanley’s chalice, talk quickly turned, at least from team owner Bill Foley, to doing the whole thing over again.
The Vegas team owner and management is confident the core roster can stay intact and that a repeat and future titles are well within reach.
“We’re not done,” Foley said the next day. “I told (center William Karlsson) when he signed an eight-year deal (in 2019) that I expect three Stanley Cups during the length of his contract. When we were on the ice and getting our picture taken, I looked over at him and told him, ‘OK, you got one.'”
If only he knew just how difficult it is and how much luck and health play a part in every single season. But then again, nothing wrong with setting hard goals.
Vegas management seems to agree.
“One of the things I feel about this team, is we’re going to be able to keep the core of our Stanley Cup championship team together better than a lot of the previous winners,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon said. “We’re pretty good in terms of players locked up for next season.“
For now, the party goes on.
Kraken Draft Picks
Here’s the complete 2023 NHL Draft order for the first two rounds and where the Seattle Kraken stand. They have a 1st-round selection at number-20 and three 2nd-round selections. The 1st-round of the Draft will be held Wednesday, June 28th with the subsequent six rounds held the next day. Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee is the site.
Round 1
1. Chicago
2. Anaheim
3. Columbus
4. San Jose
5. Montreal
6. Arizona
7. Philadelphia
8. Washington
9. Detroit
10. St. Louis
11. Vancouver
12. Arizona (from Ottawa Senators)
13. Buffalo
14. Pittsburgh
15. Nashville
16. Calgary
17. Detroit (from Islanders via Vancouver Canucks)
18. Winnipeg
19. Chicago (from Tampa Bay Lightning)
20. Seattle
21. Minnesota
22. Philadelphia (from Los Angeles Kings via Columbus Blue Jackets)
23. NY Rangers
24. Nashville (from Edmonton Oilers)
25. St. Louis (from Toronto Maple Leafs)
26. San Jose (from New Jersey Devils)
27. Colorado
28. Toronto (from Boston Bruins via Washington Capitals)
29. St. Louis (from Dallas Stars via New York Rangers)
30. Carolina
31. Montreal (from Florida Panthers)
32. Vegas
Round 2
33. Anaheim
34. Columbus
35. Chicago
36. San Jose
37. Montreal
38. Arizona
39. Buffalo (from Philadelphia Flyers)
40. Washington
41. Detroit
42. Detroit (from St. Louis Blues)
43. Detroit (from Vancouver Canucks)
44. Chicago (from Ottawa Senators)
45. Buffalo
46. Nashville (from Pittsburgh Penguins)
47. Nashville
48. Calgary
49. NY Islanders
50. Seattle (from Winnipeg Jets via Washington Capitals)
51. Chicago (from Tampa Bay Lightning)
52. Seattle
53. Minnesota
54. Los Angeles
55. Chicago (from New York Rangers)
56. Edmonton
57. Seattle (from Toronto Maple Leafs)
58. New Jersey
59. Anaheim (from Colorado Avalanche)
60. Anaheim (from Boston Bruins)
61. Dallas
62. Carolina
63. Florida
64. Minnesota (from Vegas Golden Knights via Buffalo Sabres)
Kraken Contributions:
— Kraken Farm Team Loses Game-5 In Overtime
— Kraken Daily: Hall of Fame Ballot Favorites
