Kraken Game Facts
Monday Night: Seattle Kraken at Winnipeg Jets
Where: Canada Life Centre
When: 5 pm pacific
TV/Radio: Root Sports / FM 93.3
Key Factors:
Expected starting goalies: Joey Daccord vs. Connor Hellebuyck
First of all, no, the Kraken don’t play the Flames again this season, so no revenge anytime soon on Martin Pospisil for his dirty hit from behind that injured Seattle defenseman Vince Dunn in the third period on Monday night.
Dunn will miss Tuesday night’s game.
The Kraken won the game 4-2 and kept a very small flicker of hope alive for a playoff spot, although the NHL trade deadline is coming up Friday and general manager Ron Francis has decisions to make on his unrestricted free agents (UFA’s).
Speaking of … Alexander Wennberg, a pending unrestricted free agent and a strong candidate to be traded, sat out against the Flames. Apparently he’ll miss tonight as well. Deal pending??
Winger Andre Burakovsky returned to the line-up Monday and played 13+ minutes with one shot-on-goal.
Despite poor special teams numbers the Jets are in first place in the Central Division and have the fifth most points in the NHL. They’re 8-and-2 in their last ten games.
Young center Gabriel Vilardi has been day-to-day with an upper body injury.
The two teams play one another again on Friday night at Climate Pledge Arena following the trade deadline earlier in the day.
Winnipeg captain Adam Lowry is the son of Seattle assistant coach Dave Lowry.
Who’s Hot? And Not?
Philipp Grubauer went to 5-and-1 in his last six starts after making 35 saves for the victory in Calgary.
Kraken leading scorer Jared McCann’s pointless streak lasted just two games, that would be against the Penguins and Bruins last week. He’s since picked up three points over his last two games and has 14 in his last 11.
Before getting hurt, Dunn picked up an assist in Monday’s game and the versatile defenseman moved to 45 points on the season, second on the team.
Veteran forward Jaden Schwartz picked up an assist Monday night and now has two points over his last thirteen games.
Jets D-man Josh Morrissey is on a remarkable run. He has ten points over his last five games and 16 over his last eight.
Mark Scheifele has seven points over his last five games after a three game pointless streak.
Vladi Namestnikov had a goal and an assist in Buffalo on Sunday, but has just three points total over his last 14 games.
Special Teams
The Kraken went 0-for-4 on the power play against the Flames last night and now have a success rate of 20.7% for the season. Calgary went 1-for-4 on their PP against Seattle, a club that successfully kills 79.1% of the time.
Winnipeg went 0-for-2 on the power play on Sunday in Buffalo while allowing the Sabres to go 1-for-2. For the season the Jets have the 24th best PP in the NHL at a less than adequate 18.2%. Their penalty kill is also substandard at 75.5%. Based on special teams, it’s remarkable where they are in the standings.
Coming In:
Kraken: 27-23-and-11, in 6th place in the Pacific Division with 65 points, seven points back of a Western Conference wild card spot. Seattle beat the Calgary Flames 4-2 on Monday night.
Jets: 39-16-and-5, in 1st place in the Central Division with 83 points. The Jets beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Sunday.
Recent Kraken:
— Kraken Trade Of Wennberg To Detroit Would Make A Lot Of Sense
— Kraken’s Hakstol Hits 500; Who Is This Guy Really?
