Takeaways from the Kraken’s SECOND preseason victory

Another day, another win against a good portion of Calgary’s AHL/prospect pool. It’s good momentum to start the (pre)season!

The Highlights:

The Takeaways:

• While he didn’t get a point, Wright found himself playing in all situations, and in those 13 minutes and change at all situations, was the Kraken’s best skater in terms of Shot-Attempts-For % with 74.2%, and 2nd in Unblocked-shot attempts with a very nice 69.6%.
• Unlike the last game where Edmonton for the most part controlled the shot share, Seattle got out to a big ol’ shot lead and never once gave it up. This is the kind of effort that gets you into the playoffs.
• Okay so this next thing is something I think we should consider very good news because it specifically involves the offense: Last year, a critical failure in the Kraken’s ability to win games came from scoring goals, and a big part of that often came down to what offensive talent they had getting stymied by shooting from near the boards and not close to the goal or around the middle of the ice. Not so in these first two preseason games, where they’ve been making an effort to get closer to the “home plate” area of the ice.
• The other thing that’s been pretty important? Goaltending. From an early point, it was the biggest thing that the Kraken have needed to improve upon at pretty much every level and if it couldn’t be done with talent injection it needed to come from personal improvement, and while it’s still very early and the preseason is still a couple of weeks away, the Kraken still gave up a couple of golden opportunities that both Phillipp Grubauer and Magnus Hellberg slammed the door on with aplomb. This might be the most vital thing we’ve gotten out of the Kraken’s personnel going. We’ll see how they look closer to the regular season.
• One thing that still needs work is the power play. Both of the teams they built for this preseason have yet to actually score a power play goal. They’ve scored more than one shorthanded goal, which is both very funny and a low-key dangerous option for a team looking to establish an identity, but it would be very nice if Dave Hakstol could try to jump-start this in a way that would really help.
• Jagger Firkus is Trying Stuff, but may still need seasoning before he tries to break into the NHL for good.
• Good for Andrew Putoralski for getting a goal tonight. Standing out in these times is always good for young players and up and comers.
• Kraken’s first away contest of the preseason is on Thursday in Vancouver to begin a home-and-home with the Canucks; we’ll see if these positive trends continue for them against a team that has badly needed some kind of win. That game starts at 6:30pm PT. We’ll see you there!
• Keep calm and post Zoidberg when we win.

Until then? We’ll see you on Thursday unless there’s a mass cutting of players to Coachella Valley. Why don’t you tell us something that you’re noticing about this preseason that feels different from last year? Other than the “wow Seattle Kraken real” factor?