Kraken Krankin’
Two of the NHL’s four hottest teams are neck-and-neck with one another, trying to climb up the Pacific Division standings. That would be the Seattle Kraken, 9-0-and-2 in their last eleven and on a seven-game win streak, and the Edmonton Oilers, on an eight game winning streak.
Both clubs have 43 points in the standings, but the Oilers are percentage points ahead in 4th place because they’ve played three less games than the Kraken.
Both teams are within four points of the 3rd place Los Angeles Kings, a team going through a mediocre stretch.
By the way, the two other hottest teams: the Winnipeg Jets, on top of the Central Division, having won seven in a row and touting a 9-0-and-1 record in their last ten, and the Florida Panthers, winners of eight straight.
Honorable mention: The Vancouver Canucks would actually be considered a fifth hottest team, having gone 7-2-and-1 in their last ten and having just swept the Devils, Rangers, and Islanders on the same road trip for the first time in franchise history.
Jonesy Magic
A year ago at this time the Kraken were in the midst of their never-done-before NBA/NHL record setting undefeated seven-game road trip through the east. The winning netminder in six of those games was then Kraken “back-up” Martin Jones.
It must be the time of year, because “Jonesy” is back at it again. In case you missed it, Jones was named the 2nd star of the week in the NHL last week, recording three victories and one shut-out for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
He won his 4th straight game last night (Tuesday) against one of his former clubs, the San Jose Sharks.
Signed by Leafs GM Brad Treliving as an insurance policy in August for a minimum salary, the moved proved to be a savvy one. With an ineffective Ilya Samsonov toiling in the AHL and Joseph Woll on injured reserve, Jones is carrying the big club. His back-up at this point is 22-year-old Swede Dennis Hildeby.
Jones played and won both games in a back-to-back set last Tuesday and Wednesday in LA and Anaheim.
Joey
Speaking of hot goalies, the Kraken’s Joey Daccord is now 11-5-and-8 on the season, having won every game but one (Chris Driedger) on this current hot streak, and is now 5th best in NHL goals against average at 2.28 and 4th in save percentage, .923.
Recent Kraken:
— Simmer’s Sunday 9: Kraken, Canucks, Gabby’s Podcast Returns
