3 Game Essentials | Canucks at Kraken | 6:30 p.m.

One: Mascot Mania

Two: Youth is Served

Unlike the previous three preseason games, Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol will have a more complete lineup Saturday night against the Canucks. For the first time, centers Matty Beniers and Shane Wright will both play, marking the first time the two rookies and first-round draft choices will be in a game lineup together.
Beniers, picked second overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, will be playing in his second preseason game. He scored an electric goal against the Edmonton Oilers last week when he snapped a wrist shot to beat Oilers goalie Olivier Rodrigue over the shoulder on the short side. Saturday will be the third time Wright has seen preseason action. During the Kraken's 4-3 overtime win Thursday in Vancouver, Wright picked up his first NHL preseason point by assisting on Ty Kartye's first-period goal. He ended the night playing 19-plus minutes with two shots on goal.

Three: Roster Getting Closer

The Kraken picked up a gutty win Thursday in Vancouver. Playing with a largely young and unproven roster they were able to come back from a 3-1 deficit and win in overtime on a Ryan Donato goal. Saturday, Seattle will go with a more veteran roster trying for a perfect 4-0 preseason start while getting a better feel for what the opening night version of the Kraken will look like.
After Saturday, the Kraken will have two preseason games remaining before the regular season begins in Anaheim Oct. 12. Goalie Philipp Grubauer likely makes his second preseason start and fine-tune his game. Newcomers Andre Burakovsky and Oliver Bjorkstrand will be skating to cement chemistry on potential lines with new teammates. The Kraken lineup also includes veteran forwards Yanni Gourde, Brandon Tanev, Jared McCann and Alex Wennberg. On defense, Jamie Oleksiak, Adam Larsson, Carson Soucy, and Vince Dunn will be back in action Saturday.