The Need to Knows
- Time: 7:00 pm PT
- Place: Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA
- Where to Watch: KHN, KONG, ESPN+, KCAL
- Where to Listen: Kraken Audio Network on 93.3 KJR
Know Your Enemy
Is there a better defensive team in the league right now than the Kings?
A little more than halfway through the season, Los Angeles has allowed the fewest goals (60), high danger chances (56), and rebound shots (74) at five-on-five, stifling opponents to gain a 55.8% edge in shot quality (2nd). Guilty of the fewest giveaways by any team (493) yet plummeting to 26th when it comes to blocking shots (576) suggests the Kings are not only reacting to enemy attacks accordingly, but preventing them entirely– they’ve allowed the fewest shots per game in the NHL (24.8).
Los Angeles is making goaltending easy on their tandem, surely, but whether those defensive numbers would be as strong relying on goaltending alone is a question the Kraken would do well attempting to answer. Darcy Kuemper is the proud owner of a .923 SV% (3rd) and 2.06 GAA (2nd) despite suffering two lower-body injuries this season. Additionally, he’s saved 7.9 goals above the so few his team is already expected to surrender. Vancouver beat him once in their 5-1 loss to the Kings on Thursday with a screened shot fired from 47 feet away.
Alex Laferriere is “doubtful” for Saturday’s contest, and defenseman Drew Doughty is the only skater on IR per the NHL media site. Adrian Kempe is particularly hot when it comes to the offensive side of things, scoring five points in his last five games to lead his team in goals (21) and share the lead in points (41) with Anze Kopitar.
Game Preview
Returning home from a mediocre– and at times disastrous– 2-3-0 road trip means the onus is once again on Seattle to utilize a sizable homestand to turn things around. That is, to build confidence in a “fragile” locker room and return to the stingy defensive game they’re known for after allowing six goals two separate times on the road.
Brandon Tanev missed Thursday’s game due to illness, but morning skate on Saturday should hint at whether he’ll return to game action. General manager Ron Francis updated the statuses of Yanni Gourde and Jordan Eberle earlier this week– both are still a ways out in terms of full recoveries.