Kraken Game Facts
This Afternoon: Detroit Red Wings at Seattle Kraken
Where: Climate Pledge Arena
When: 12:30 pm pacific
TV/Radio: ESPN(+) / FM 93.3
Key Factors:
Expected starting goalies: Alex Lyon vs. Joey Daccord
We touched on the two items in today’s headline in “Simmer’s Sunday 9”. That being the completely intact health of the Seattle Kraken and the fact the Red Wings are a surprising Eastern Conference playoff club at the moment.
D-man Ryker Evans and center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare should be the scratches on Monday. A healthy roster gives Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol options.
“Regardless of the situation you take everything into account,” Hakstol said moments ago before Sunday’s game. “We put thought into it, look at some of the facts involved, some of things we think may play out, and we put together groups that make sense. A lot of it is based off some historical performances and data, but it’s all a matter of timing as well.”
The Kraken are four points back of the 2nd wild card position in the west and haven’t played at home since a 4-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 28th.
Seattle has never lost to Detroit in regulation, holding a 4-0-and-1 record in the all-time head-to-head match-up.
The Red Wings have a two point cushion on the New Jersey Devils for the 2nd wild card spot in the east.
The man to watch for Detroit is captain Dylan Larkin, a Michigan native who plays with reckless abandon. He’s a great role model for youth hockey players based on his work ethic alone. He’ll take abuse to score goals and to lead his hockey club.
Who’s Hot? And Not?
Jared McCann picked up an empty net goal on Saturday and has 17 points over his last 14 games. He’s presently riding a four-game point streak.
Matty Beniers had a three-point night in Boston and has three goals over his last ten games.
Jaden Schwartz has gone pointless in his last six games and in ten of his last twelve.
For Detroit, Patrick Kane, Lucas Raymond and D-man Moritz Seider all had two point games on Saturday in Calgary. Kane is the hottest Red Wing with six points over his last four games.
Larkin is the club’s leading scorer, and despite just two points over his last five games, he’s exactly a point-a-game player for the season, 48 in 48. His balance is pretty good; 24 goals and 24 assists.
Forwards J.T. Compher and Alex Debrincat are averaging a point-a-game over their last three.
Special Teams
Detroit went 2-for-5 on the power play on Saturday against the Flames while holding Calgary to an 0-for-5. The Wings power play is a solid 23.3% on the season while the PK is similarly efficient at 82.4%.
Thursday night the Kraken went 1-for-2 on the power play and held the Bruins to an 0-for-2. The season percentage nudged up to 21% on the PP. The penalty kill still needs a bit of work, operating with success 78.8% of the time.
Coming In:
Red Wings: 28-20-and-6, in 5th place in the Atlantic Division with 62 points. Detroit beat the Flames 5-0 on Saturday night in Calgary.
Kraken: 23-21-and-10, in 5th place in the Pacific Division with 56 points. Seattle beat the Bruins 4-1 on Thursday night in Boston.
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