We The Fans: Sunny Day in Seattle Presents Great Opportunity for Kraken Win
THEY GOTTA BE BUZZIN!!! Realistically probably should be looking for 4-5 goals at home today against a skilled and well coached Flyers Team. That team is also on two wins back to back. A positive note for the Kraken and their recent power play success is Philadelphia takes a ton of penalties and looks to make up for their defensive lapses with burst of speed and skill in the offensive end.
The Kraken definitely need to use their own speed and strength to continue to find angles and circle look to shoot hard as well as drive to the net and make plays and force the other teams goalie to make tough saves. Coach Lambert also stressed puck movement after yesterday’s public practice in Seattle. “Even when people were panicking they were still getting looks” was the coaches words from the press conference.
Philadelphia has had some defensive breaks this year and their Head Coach Rick Tocchet system looks to limit weakside and back door goals. Flyers are missing Tyson Foerster who had two goals when the Flyer beat us 5-2 at home. Seattle Kraken need to look to return the favor at Climate Pledge and extend their win streak to 4. The Kraken are 1-7-1 against goaltender Dan Vladar (.905SV% and 2.51 GA against the Kraken) and are 1-7-0 at home since November 20th. The Kraken started the season 6-0-3 at Climate Pledge Arena.
From a personal standpoint I’d really like to see the Kraken try and set up behind the net more 5 on 5 and circle more on the power play. Watching them not utilize an area Wayne Gretzky was the best ever at using feels like waste of time and space with speed of todays NHL, Instead of the traditional and typical 2 high Defenseman, they need to switch to a single high D, two wings, a net front, and a guy behind the goal. My reasoning being goalies really struggle with the moves and speed of guys behind the net. If a team has to cover that it a pulls a player out of the shooting lanes and consistent movement of players, utilization of technique, upgrades to the way the sticks bends and curves means you can’t afford to be caught standing still in the modern NHL. Our team can’t play traditional, but its a genuine strategy contribution for a team that’s been struggling 5 on 5, but it is 4th in the league on the power play over the last three games on the power play, and 11th in 5 on 5 goals.
Trevor Zegras has 15 goals and 22 assists for the Flyers and The Kraken should look to return Vince Dunn (Thank god I was wrong about the 4-6 Weeks) and Jared McCann to the line up. All things considered the large differences in the two teams systems should make for a fun afternoon in Seattle. The team needs this win as they are 3 points out of a wild card spot in the Western Conference and currently sit at 6th in the Pacific Division.
Projected Lineup vs Philadelphia Flyers (12/28)
Kakko-Beniers-Eberle
Tolvanen-Stephenson-Gaudreau
Catton-Wright-McCann
Kartye-Meyers-Melanson
Dunn-Larsson
Lindgren-Oleksiak
Evans-Mahura
Daccord
Lets Go Kraken!
Very Respectfully,
Caleb Nance