Kraken @ Devils PREVIEW: Bounceback Urgency

The Need to Knows

• The Time: 4pm PT
• The Place: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
• Place to Watch: ROOT Northwest, ESPN+/SportsNet+
• Place to Listen: KJR 93.3-FM
• An Opposing Viewpoint:  All About the Jersey

Know Your Enemy

Scoring 2.71 goals per 60 (7th) and allowing 2.79 goals against per 60 (6th), the New Jersey Devils are unruly on both ends of the ice. Touting a ninth-ranked power play (24.2%) and an 18th-worst penalty kill (79.5%), the issue is the same in man advantage and disadvantage situations. Surprisingly, they were shutout 1-0 in overtime by the Carolina Hurricanes in their last game despite having scored at least two goals in their previous eight straight outings. Expecting a return to form for their attacking lines is smart, given their strong offensive habits allow them to establish a formidable presence in front of their opponent’s crease (even despite missing core pieces in Dougie Hamilton, Jonas Siegenthaler, and Michael McCleod).

Strangely, however, they lack finishing touch in exactly the high danger areas they target, which could end up being an advantage for likely starter Joey Daccord, who excels long distance and struggles greatly with point-blank attempts.

Game Preview

Between marking their sixth-straight loss and the re-injuring of André Burakovsky, who had returned to the lineup after missing the previous 19 games, calling the first time these two teams met a disaster is an understatement. Ideally, Monday’s tilt should be used as a measurement of progress on the Kraken’s part, given the only thing that stood in the way of snapping their losing skid was a one-goal deficit– Seattle controlled 59.11% of the total shot quality, limiting New Jersey to five high danger chances while they generated 12 of their own.

Fresh off their worst offensive performance of the season– owning 31.15% of the total shot quality thanks to a nonexistent net-front presence– it seems the Kraken are in even worse a place now than they were in December, at the start of this cross-conference season series. Health is no longer a pressing concern with Justin Schultz (personal) and Pierre-Édouard Bellemare (lower-body injury) standing as the only potential absences.

With the Kraken’s best goaltender in net and the roster in prime physical shape, there will be no excuses to lean on if the game goes poorly. Thirty game remain after tonight– the clock is ticking for Seattle to turn their season around.