3 Game Essentials | Minnesota at Kraken| Nov. 13

One: Get Back to Strong Forechecking

Hakstol says he sees it as a "five-man forecheck" in which the forwards work the offensive zone-often two pushing deep in the offensive zone and the third forward hanging back near the blue line-and the defenseman doing their part of steal pucks or disrupting opponents' flow. The result is two or three layers of forecheck.
"Sometimes a successful forecheck is getting the puck back in the neutral zone or even defensive zone," said Hakstol, looking for the Kraken to "clean that up" Saturday against Minnesota.

Two: Kraken in Focus

Forward Jordan Eberle has clearly found his scoring groove, notching six goals in the last five games. He now leads the team with eight goals. Jared McCann tallied a pair of potential-comeback goals Thursday, the second one on a move to outwit a defenseman that should perk all fans to watch No. 16 against the Wild. Hunch: No. 17 Jared Schwartz will figure in the scoring Saturday too.

Three: Know the Foe

Minnesota returns to Climate Pledge Arena after dropping an Oct. 28 game to Seattle. The Wild stand at 9-4-0 and in second place in the Central division. They are 6-4 in there last 10 contests after three straight wins to being the season. They lost, 3-2, at Vegas Thursday, going 0-for-6 on power play opportunities. Though fans might know Minnesota stars, less heralded forward Ryan Hartman leads the Wild in goals with seven in 13 games.