CGY at SEA: 3 Keys to the Game

1. Keeping the puck out of the Kraken defensive end for extended minutes

2. These final two preseason games will be closely evaluated, especially "puck battles."

Hakstol and his coaching staff will review Friday's game footage to evaluate "the individuals involved in puck battles [in the defensive zone] and what results came out." For newer fans, puck battles typically are 1-on-1 tussles between opponents but as the offensive team gets deep into the opponent's zone (corners and behind the goal), the puck battle is more scrum with various sticks, legs, arms, skate blades and torso maneuvering for possession.
Haktol added when opponents ring up too much possession time-even if the prime shooting lanes are stifled-it causes the defensemen and center to expend too much energy on keeping the puck out of the net.
The coach explained "that's what training camp is about ... we're trying to figure guys who can help us build shifts and build momentum ... it's part of being a good team, the next group builds off the previous lines and [defensive] pairings."

3. Solidifying the forward lines, testing younger defensemen

Hakstol will be looking for momentum building Saturday without the preseason's star line of Jaden Schwartz-Jared McCann-Jordan Eberle (lots of good shifts from them Friday). The all-Swede line of Calle Jarnkrok-Alex Wennberg-Marcus Johansson will get a second consecutive night to jell as a unit.
The Swedes looked sharp in early practices before Wennberg was excused for several days and games for the birth of his son. Friday was mixed, less productive in the first 40 minutes then looking more dangerous in the third period.
Saturday's other lines are Ryan Donato-Morgan Geekie-Joonas Donskoi (they look locked in with each other); Brandon Tanev-Riley Sheahan-Mason Appleton (Appleton gets a chance with veteran forwards who know a role-line when they see it) and Cole Lind-Alex True-Nathan Bastian (probably less ice time but every shift counts for their roster aspirations).
Among the six defensemen dressing, there is definite competition. With Mark Giordano and Carson Soucy not in the lineup, veterans Adam Larsson, Jamie Oleksiak and Vince Dunn will be joined by Jeremy Lauzon (physically active Friday), Will Borgen and Dennis Cholowski (second unit power play "quarterback") will all get ample ice time to prove their cases. One note about Dunn: With Giordano getting rest, he likely steps into the first-unit power play quarterback.