The Need to Knows
- The Time: 7pm PST
- The Place: Climate Pledge Arena in Beautiful Seattle, WA
- Place to Watch: KHN Networks, KONG, Amazon Prime (if Local), SportsNet 1, CBC
- Place to Listen: KJR 93.3-FM
Game Preview
Back home and it feels so good!
The Kraken are playing the Edmonton Oilers, who do not appear to be at the top of the Pacific Division for some reason, I wonder if there may be a culprit for it? Perhaps, not just one, but two players actively depth charging two of the most talented NHLers of the modern era just after the team signed a reverse version of a “prove it” deal with their star player?
Anyway the Oilers just barely survived a boat race against the Montreal Canadiens thanks to some truly egregious home cooking when it came to the officiating. Like, even for the low standards the NHL officiating corps often sets for itself, that game’s penalty list does not reflect what on earth was happening during that game.
Mercifully, the Kraken won’t have to worry about that, but they’ll still have to be ready to put on a show because any game in which Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are participants is one that your defense is going to struggle mightily against. Their skill level in skating and stickhandling is just in another tier of player altogether.
Rest of the team right now however? Well…there’s a reason Connor signed a “prove it” deal. This team kind of blows.
Part of it is their defense, which has historically been okay in the 2020’s, having serious trouble clearing the middle of the ice in the high slot. Far more confusing, and probably concerning, is that the Non-McDraisaitl part of the team is having the worst time actually scoring consistently. They get shots from in close on the goaltender…and that’s kind of it. The Oilers love attacking the slot, but rarely do it with enough consistency to get goals.
Also, Stuart Skinner is still their goaltender. I am pointing this out as a neutral statement of fact and not elaborating further because that will instead give ammunition.
However, I don’t believe they can treat this like the Jets game and get away with it; The Oilers have real finish up and down their lineup, and there’s reason to believe that they are just getting insanely unlucky in this first part of the season. Further, they’re a team that’s just designed to make your life miserable on the power play. Even with their deficiencies, they are still a world class team that just hasn’t been able to translate it yet.
It behooves the Kraken then to break their spirits and quickly.
LET’S GO KRAKEN, LET’S GO SQUIDS