Kraken Puck Drops
The Seattle Kraken take on the Calgary Flames on Monday … twice!
Actually, it’s pretty much at the same time.
The first split squad game begins this evening at 6 pm pacific at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary with the second one starting an hour later at Climate Pledge Arena.
Here are the rosters for the home game:
Here are the rosters for the Kraken road game:
Don’t read into the strength of the home team line-ups too much. The bigger names often play at home in preseason, especially in split squads, because why wouldn’t you cater to the home fans. They’re not paying to see their favorite junior hockey prospects.
By the way, some of the more prominent Flames played last night at home against the Vancouver Canucks and beat the visitors 10-0. Matt Coronato, Calgary’s 13th-overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, tallied a hat trick.
Hello From Yanni Gourde
Yanni Gourde, the feisty alternate captain of the Seattle Kraken spoke with the media on Sunday. We provide a triple-feature as he talks about the start of camp.
“It’s definitely hard, we go out there, we try really hard,” he said. “Intensity was high the first first three days, and it’s fun, it’s fun to see the compete level, it’s fun to see those young guys come in and do what they do.”
Last year’s success means little as it relates to creating good habits in Kraken season-3.
“I think every year we’re gonna try to set the tone,” Gourde said. “I don’t think it really matters how we finished last year. We come here this year, it’s a new season, everything is new. You’ve got to start winning games right away when the season starts. So, intensity level is gonna be really high right away, and I think that’s what we’re trying to do, go out there and be intense. Make plays under pressure and make sure the compete level is high.”
Gourde conducted the interview while wearing an Alex Killorn labelled cap, his former teammate on two Stanley Cup winners with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Killorn signed with the Anaheim Ducks this summer, so Gourde wore the hat backwards.
“I knew this question was going to happen, that’s why I put it backwards,” Gourde said smiling. “He’s in the division now so I’ve gotta, I can’t be wearing this hat anymore, so I’ll burn it on my way out.”
Gourde is in the Kraken line-up for the home game Monday evening.
News And Notes:
Three-time Stanley Cup champion, 37-year-old forward Evgeni Malkin told reporters on Saturday that he plans to play three more seasons. That will make 20 seasons with the PIttsburgh Penguins, a team he believes will be much improved after missing the playoffs last spring.
“I think we’re a stronger team than last year,” Malkin said. “I hope we stay together and our goal is the playoffs, be a winner every game.”
Meanwhile, across the state of Pennsylvania, it appears top line center Sean Couturier will play for the first time since December of 2021 when he was injured. leading to multiple back surgeries. He’s a key member of the power play and the penalty kill for a Philadelphia Flyers club that struggled mightily under head coach John Tortorella in 2022-’23.
Besides the Flames shellacking of the Canucks, there were two other shut-outs in NHL preseason action yesterday with the Boston Bruins blanking the New York Rangers 3-0 and the Dallas Stars beating the Arizona Coyotes 7-0. Those were three of 12 preseason games on the Sunday slate.
Speaking of the Canucks, they’ll visit the Kraken in preseason action on Thursday night.
Recent Kraken:
— Kraken Camp Notes: New D Speaks, Hak Thoughts, Kartye
— Video:
The Killorn hat bit shows exactly why Seattle loves Yanni Gourde. Dude is a riot.