The Need to Knows
- The Time: 5pm PST
- The Place: Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Place to Watch: KHN, KONG, KING-5, TSN-3
- Place to Listen: KJR 93.3-FM
Game Preview
A week ago, if you told me that the Kraken would be 3rd in Division after a week and that they would be there facing the Jets, I think I’d be pretty gung-ho about it. Let’s do this, let’s take it to the Jets!
Now? I’m just hoping everybody who shows up on the lineup sheet makes it through the game. A Win would be nice, but I’m not doing that at the expense of any new visits to the infirmary.
Anyway, what remains of the Kraken face a formidable foe once again: the Jets are once again in the running for best in the West, forget just the Central. As per usual, Connor Hellebuyck remains the biggest reason they’re such a success, but the one-two punch of Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele, who’ve once again shown up as major points of pride for the Jets; leading the team with 9 and 10 points in 6 games respectively.
Anyway, here’s the funny thing: the Jets are doing this while not having the puck much. If at all. They are dead last in every relevant possession category involving having the puck at even strength. This is in spite of being a very, VERY good team otherwise! So what’s their secret to success?
Easy: Power play merchantry the likes of which you have NEVER seen before.
The Jets are effectively a death sentence if given a power play: boasting a 30% success rate through 6 games that has them 4th in the league. Their penalty kill is almost impregnible too; leading the league with a 96% success rate. This potent cocktail, combined with the strong north-south game of their skaters, makes them a much nastier team to spar with than you might expect. Discipline in this one is paramount above all other concerns to coming out of it intact.
Seattle and Winnipeg have tended to have extremely bizarre and close games in recent memory, and given the ingredients of things coming into this one, it doesn’t seem like thats going to change. It could however put them in a position to win tonight, which would be a welcome change of pace after the last couple of boondoggles. Let’s see how they fare!
LETS GO KRAKEN, LETS GO SQUIDS
For God’s sake, LETS STAY HEALTHY!