The Need To Knows
- Time: 7:00 PT / 10:00 ET
- Place: Climate Pledge Arena at Seattle, WA
- Where to Watch: KHN, KONG, FDSNSUN (Tampa Bay area), ESPN+ (all other U.S. areas)
- Where to Listen: Kraken Hockey Network on KJR 93.3
Know Your Enemy
Tonight is the first of two meetings this season between the Kraken and the Tampa Bay Lightning. In recent years, the Lightning have been one of the more formidable teams in the NHL, but their powers have weakened since their back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021. Part of that is due to sending their long-time Captain to the Nashville Predators, but another part of that is just the natural life cycle of teams in contention. Eventually, all teams find themselves on the outside looking in. Tampa Bay is currently in the top Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, but a huge part of why they’re there is because they are a point behind the Bruins. Without the Kraken’s win on Thursday, Tampa would likely be going into this game with a much easier mindset. Instead, they now have to work hard not to fall out of playoff contention entirely.
A scoring storyline to keep an eye on is that Jake Guentzel had a hat trick for the Lightning on Thursday, which mostly served the purpose of reminding me that he’s no longer on Sidney Crosby’s wing with the Penguins. Only OG’s remember the Jake’s Shake with the Milkshake Factory that was 50% off whenever he scored a goal with the Penguins (which has now become Rust’s Shake, and Bryan Rust also had a hatty that same night…the irony). I’m not saying Guenztel will repeat his performance, but it’s the fact that he’s on a roll for Tampa Bay that garners focusing in on him.
Game Preview
The Seattle Kraken are hot, folks. After going 3-for-4 on their Metro Division road trip, they also started off this homestand against Atlantic Division teams with a point against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers, and 2 points against the Boston Bruins. The line of Oliver Bjorkstrand, Shane Wright, and Eeli Tolvanen is especially hot, carrying the momentum they showed on that road trip into this homestand. Part of their success against Tampa Bay is going to be to let that line keep cooking. But it’s also going to be to keep at some of the lessons they learned on the past roadie: get to the netfront and be a menace. It doesn’t matter how. Heck, even go as far as to make a case for the Mariners to sign them to a contract. (And not the Phillies, I never tried to suggest to bring their talent to Philadelphia. But I’d accept Nick Castellanos to Seattle as a fair enough trade for a Kraken player in our outfield. Much better than the potential of sending him to the Astros!!!!)
Baseball style goals are just the cherry on top, though. As long as the Kraken keep playing the way they they have been, they have a good chance of beating one of the better teams the NHL has seen these past few seasons. Nothing is guaranteed, but it’s highly possible. The Kraken are also still on the outside looking in themselves in the playoff chase, so beating teams like the Lightning are crucial to giving them the extra points needed to launch themselves back into contention.
(Also, if you understood the reference in the title of this article, bring me with you to whatever Oasis reunion show you’re going to.)