One: Keep the momentum rolling at home
Seattle has won its last two games, including a 5-3 victory over the Utah Mammoth on Thursday. The Kraken have gone 5-1-1 over their last seven games and will look to keep that momentum going against Minnesota.
The Kraken have found ways to generate offense but maintaining that production will be important against a Wild team that can capitalize on defensive mistakes. Seattle should look to establish its pace early, sustain pressure in the offensive zone and avoid allowing Minnesota to dictate the game's tempo.
Two: Protect the lead for a full 60 minutes
Despite their recent success, the Kraken have had trouble protecting multi-goal leads in the third period. Seattle rallied to beat Utah, but the team knows it needs to tighten up defensively when playing with an advantage.
Against Minnesota, that means making smart decisions with the puck, limiting turnovers and staying committed to defensive responsibilities late in the game. The Kraken have shown they can score; now, closing out games consistently will be just as important.
Three: Take advantage of Minnesota's road struggles
The Wild arrive in Seattle looking to snap a three-game road losing streak. Minnesota has dropped its first two games of its current road trip, including a 2-1 loss to Calgary on Thursday.
Seattle has an opportunity to capitalize on Minnesota's struggles away from home, particularly by applying pressure early and forcing the Wild to defend for extended stretches. With Kirill Kaprizov and Minnesota's other offensive threats capable of changing a game quickly, the Kraken will need to balance aggressive forechecking with disciplined defensive coverage.
Projected Lineup (not official):
Check back after morning skate.
