Game 1: Seattle pulls away in 3rd period in 7-3 WIN!
This was a pretty back and forth game, with both sides recognizing pretty quickly that defense was sort of an optional concern. The Kraken however adjusted to this kind of boat race a lot better than the Canucks did, and once Andrei Loshko got his first of the night, they never looked back as 5 players scored, particularly in the third period where it seemed like structure abandoned their foes, in a 7-3 WIN!
Notable players: Andrei Loshko and Justin Janicke, who both had two goals apiece!
Game 2: Vancouver lets Adam Novotny loose, Kraken suffers 5-2 Loss
This game felt a bit more loose than the already loose first game, and Vancouver seemed to have adjusted big time for their foe, particularly allowing forward Adam Novotny to victimize them in a hellacious game from the young Czech, with him ending his night with 3 points. It also didn’t help that poor Maks Corovic had himself a rough afternoon; allowing three straight goals to put the Canucks ahead. The Kraken still got some decent chances, however, and one highlight reel shift from Jagger Firkus.
To quote the great scholar Edwin Starr; Good god, y’all. Still a 5-2 loss.
Notable players: Firkus and Janicke, again!
Can we actually learn anything about these games?
I mean, here’s a couple things?
- Justin Janicke met the moment big time
- Justin Janicke has had a weird weekend. Previously not even expected to be on the prospect roster, Janicke ended up on this squad thanks to Jake O’Brien’s absence, and ended up being one of the most effective players on the ice through both games, and the only one to score in both. Toiling away on the Kansas City Mavericks has given him a real appreciation for this moment, let’s hope he enjoys the next part of his career in Coachella, because I think he more than earned the chance to be a Firebird. Hope you like it 75 and dry all year!
- When he’s got space, Jagger Firkus is a highlight reel waiting to happen.
- I mean, what else could you get from his goal against Vancouver in game 2 other than that? Like where the hell do you start defending that. “oh just throw a hit” and get juked out of your skates? Man, you’d better skate like McDavid backwards.
- Derek Laxdal likes playing with fire.
- I get the impression that if I was a season ticket holder for the Firebirds, I’d be going gray prematurely from how much he trusts his goaltender. Nikke Kokko did perfectly fine, but man Maks Corovic was asked to come up huge, and it’s a little crazy how dirty they did him on some shifts.
- The time for graduation for some of these prospects is nigh
- There’s gonna be some new names on the Kansas City Mavericks and Coachella Valley Firebirds this season. Some of these guys are very obviously ready for superior competition.
Seattle’s preseason begins in earnest as the Kraken get another shot at the Canucks on Saturday at Climate Pledge Arena. That game is on KONG, KHN Affiliate stations, and Amazon Prime; dropping the puck not too long after 6pm PT.
We’ll see you then! Until then…
Keep Calm, and Post Zoidberg When We Win