As it turns out, losing Burakovsky, Larsson, Beniers, and Dunn in one night then having to face the Penguins and New York Rangers is pretty deleterious to your ability to win games.
The streak ends at 9.
If you can stand it, the Highlights
Game Notes
- Your TOI Leader was Jamie Oleksiak, with 28:21 played.
- The offense was without several of it’s major contributors directly away from the puck tonight, and boy did it suffer. Losing half of and then your entire top pair of defenders over the course of the morning…definitely didn’t help. Losing any one of the names up top sucks. Beniers anchors a lot of the driving of the puck in the right direction; Vince Dunn’s been a point-factory since about Christmas, and Adam Larsson has been a rock on defense. Losing all of them is crushing. The Kraken as a result looked absolutely out of sorts at just about every angle, and all of their ability to create chances dried up quickly. All the Pens, who by comparison are as healthy as can be, had to do was keep up pressure, and they got the opportunities they needed to snap this streak.
- Really doesn’t help that Pittsburgh seemed to hone in on the transition game, depleted as it was, and took the Kraken’s biggest offensive X-factor to the woodshed. Tristen Jarry after the game even took the time to point out that it was a point of emphasis for them pre-game.
- Mercifully, it seems as though Adam Larsson’s just fighting some form of illness according to Hakstol, and that Dunn is listed day-to-day. It’s a little unfortunate that they’re both out because it may force the Kraken to make a quick call up in the wake of this loss, but so long as they’re out…there’s gonna be some struggle. It’s a big opportunity for Ryker Evans to prove what he’s made of in the coming weeks.
- It’s hard to be super negative in general about this loss. It sucks that they dropped this streak in such an anti-climactic manner, but a lot of the pieces that got them there are out now and Pittsburgh’s kind of heating up. I wanted the winning streak to reach ten, but now the team can keep chasing it year after year until they get it. They got all the time in the world.
- Laugh all you want, Penguins fans. Jake Guentzel would look great in Deep Blue next year…according to Eddie Olcyk, who spent a bizarre amount of time stumping for him on the broadcast late in the game. I for one am for that, but maybe let’s let the kids figure out if they’re good before we go Free Agent hunting?
- Get well soon, everybody. Seattle needs you!
Was There Anything Positive About This Game?
- Joey Daccord left this game with a .938 SV%, and if that’s him starting to feel fatigue, then that’s a damn good goalie. Still, it’s a shame nobody else could get a goal to make his life easier.
- Ryker Evans led the team in shot attempts, unblocked shot attempts, and quality shots-for. As a defenseman. Your Vince Dunn impression is good, Ryker, but we need at least a couple of points out of that. Still! Good night at the office for him.
- Jamie Oleksiak played nearly a half-hour of hockey today. The phrase “Twenty Miles, Twenty Smiles” must be very near and dear to him.
Better come out big tomorrow.
The NaturalStatTrick.com Charts
Wow. You can really see when the dam broke.
No rest for the wicked! The Kraken head to Manhatten to take on the Rangers at 4pm PT tomorrow.
See you tomorrow, and as always…
Keep Calm, and Post Zoidberg When We Win
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