Each of the three Kraken players made available to the media post-game Saturday received questions regarding the importance of the physicality on display in Seattle’s 4-2 win over Los Angeles. Inquiry spilled over into post-practice pressers the next morning, too.
How often has physicality– the presence, not lack thereof– been the focus of Kraken scrums and soundbites this season? Or, ever?
Every season since inauguration, the Kraken have ranked toward the bottom of the league in total hits given. In December, they traded Will Borgen to the New York Rangers, ranked second all-time in hits for the franchise (536). Fights are also slowly becoming less prevalent: 26 in 2021-22, then 23, then 15, now six so far in 47 games. That the Kraken have trailed after the first period 22 times and after the second 25 times speaks, at least indirectly, to their general lack of ‘bite.’
Hits like bombs, equal in tactical and emotional impact, are a rare sight from Seattle, the second-shortest and tenth-lightest team in the NHL. So when Josh Mahura flattened Warren Foegele with an open-ice hit forceful enough to send himself sprawling, creating the possession and space necessary for Jaden Schwartz to seize the lead with his second goal of the game, everybody took note.
“We wouldn’t have scored if he didn’t do that,” Schwartz, completing his first hat trick in a Kraken sweater later that night, pointed out. “He’s been doing a good job of that– being hard to play against– and we need to continue to do that as a team.”
Head coach Dan Bylsma shared his sentiment. “It was a huge, statement hit, and getting the goal right after it was a sign to everybody we were in the match.”
Kraken skaters threw 32 hits on the way to a victory which began by their opening the scoring for the third-straight outing. Adrian Kempe and Jordan Spence responded to keep the Kings tied headed to first intermission, and Chandler Stephenson chipped in his fourth goal of the month for an early second period game-winner.
Kaapo Kakko recorded three assists, including one on Schwartz’s empty-netter to trigger a celebratory drizzle of hats. It was the Kraken’s second hat trick of the season and first at home since Jordan Eberle’s three-goal game Nov. 4, 2021.
Checks like his own aren’t ones Mahura said he’s necessarily always looking to make– especially in this case, with the alternative being allowing Foegele to beat him for open territory in front of Joey Daccord. All three Kraken forwards trailed.
But Mahura voiced his belief in the importance of physicality regardless.
“It’s important for us every single night. I think when we’re playing our best hockey we’re physical in the D-zone and on the forecheck in the O-zone. It’s just a good thing for a team where, when everyone’s doing it, we’re a good team.”
When general manager Ron Francis joined the KHN pre-game show ahead of meeting the Penguins on the road last week, he assessed Seattle’s situation as being a “fragile” one. Physicality– ideally accompanying wins– may be one way to rebuild the confidence weakened over the course of nine losses in 11 games from mid-December to early January, weakened over the course of a 20-24-3 season.
Bylsma emphasized at practice Sunday that there isn’t one way to be physical. Regardless, it’s crucial in order for teams to assert themselves.
“When our team is playing well, you see more and more– and I don’t necessarily just mean the big hit, the type Muzz delivered in the middle of the ice there, or Turbo on the forecheck having a big hit. It’s Matty Beniers using his skating and getting in, it’s Kakko getting in and getting on pucks and winning pucks and owning pucks and being physical and making it hard on the opposition.”
“It’s a confrontational game, and it’s a one-on-one game, and you have to have the mindset you’re going to win your one-on-one,” Bylsma said. “And so it’s an indication that you’re in the match. It’s an indication that you’re engaged in the competition.”