Kraken Game Facts:
This Afternoon: Seattle Kraken at Anaheim Ducks
Where: Honda Center
When: 5 pm pacific
TV/Radio: ROOT Sports / FM 93.3
Key Factors:
Starting goalies: Joey Daccord vs. Lukas Dostal
The young Ducks lost 2nd-overall 2023 NHL Draft pick Leo Carlsson to injury on Thursday night at home against Calgary when he got his right leg pinned under falling Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar. Carlsson was helped off the ice midway through the 3rd period. He had 15 points in his first 23 NHL games
Not great news for a team eight games under .500.
On a happier note, Anaheim’s top offensive talent Trevor Zegras might return to the line-up for the first time since November 7th. He’s a game day decision after recovering from a lower body injury.
The Kraken have suffered a rash of injuries recently, but have managed to pick up points in five straight games.
Andre Burakovsky and Jaden Schwartz remain out of the line-up with Schwartz on long-term injured reserve. Kole Lind was called up on Tuesday from the Coachella Valley Firebirds and saw six minutes of ice time against the Kings. He delivered two hits.
Forwards Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, on injured reserve, and Jared McCann, day-to-day, also missed the LA game while D-man Justin Schultz returned to the line-up.
The Kraken went with their six regular, veteran defensemen as rookie Ryker Evans sat out after playing in seven straight.
After the Ducks match, the Kraken will get the three day Christmas break to heal up a bit before heading to Calgary for a game against the Flames on Wednesday.
Who’s Hot? And Not …
After missing last Saturday night’s game, veteran winger Jordan Eberle has points in back-to-back games including the game winning goal against the Kings on Wednesday. Scrappy winger Brandon Tanev also scored.
Oliver Bjorkstrand has five points over his last four games and leads the Kraken in scoring with 26 points.
Yanni Gourde, playing in his 500th career NHL game, has just one point over his last 13 games.
For Anaheim, top line winger Troy Terry had back-to-back, two-point games before his club was shut-out by Calgary. He’s averaged a point-a-game over his last six. Veteran center Adam Henrique has seven points over that same span and had a hat trick against the New Jersey Devils six nights ago.
Ducks 2nd line center Mason McTavish is pointless in his last five games while the club’s leading scorer Frank Vatrano has gone without a point in eight.
Special Teams
The Kraken went 0-for-3 on the power play in Los Angeles on Wednesday night and saw their season percentage trickle down to the traditional benchmark of respectability, 20%. Oddly enough, after killing off all four Kings power plays, the Seattle penalty kill has sneaked up close to the PK benchmark of respectability, 80%. The Kraken are at 79.6%.
Anaheim spent too much time in the penalty box on Thursday night against the Flames, but managed to kill off six of seven Calgary power plays. Overall on the penalty kill this season the Ducks are at 80.4%. Their power play is also decent, with a 21.4% mark after 32 games.
Coming In:
Kraken: 11-14-and-9 after Wednesday night’s 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.
Ducks: 12-and-20 after Thursday evening’s 3-0 home loss to the Calgary Flames.
Recent Kraken:
— Kraken Line Changes A Reflection Of Club’s Depth Issue
