3 Game Essentials | Kraken vs. Panthers | Jan. 23

One: Put Pucks on Net

"Simple is always better," said Giordano, meaning get the puck efficiently out of the defensive zone into offensive mode. If it means dumping the puck into the opponent's zone and chasing it to win possession or forecheck to get the puck back, that's better than losing the puck on entry when defenders are allowing time and space.
Coach Dave Hakstol reiterated his captain's point-of-view: "We hung onto too many pucks entering the O-zone." Hakstol said the Kraken were better in the second period getting "pucks on net."
Getting pucks on net can lead to deflections off players, rebounds, opportunities to re-direct the puck and other ways to score to what players like Jordan Eberle call "greasy" or "ugly" goals. Putting pucks on net will be necessary to offset the Panthers' potent offense and Florida's starting goalie, likely Sergei Bobrovsky.

Two: Focus on Kraken: Eberle

Veteran Kraken forward Eberle has endured 15 games without scoring a goal. He is upfront and accountable about that fact: "I get paid to score goals. It's frustrating."
Look for Eberle to continue working hard in all zones, but looking to get more shots on goal. He had just one in the St. Louis loss and zero in the loss to Los Angeles to open this homestand. In the two Kraken wins on the current homestand he fired seven shots on goal. Eberle hasn't notched an assist in six games. He's due, way overdue.

Three: Know the Foe: Florida Panthers (28-8-5, first in Atlantic Division)

The Panthers have the third-best record in the NHL based on the standings points earned per game. They won back-to-back, Thursday-Friday road games in Edmonton (6-0 shutout for Bobrovsky) and Vancouver (2-1 shootout, the net manned by FLA goalie-of-the-future Spencer Knight, who was sent to AHL Charlotte earlier this season after allowing 12 goals on 68 shots over two mid-December games).
Florida is 8-1-1 in its last 10 games. The Atlantic leader's season-long dominance - not deterred by former coach Joel Quenneville's forced resignation - has been fueled by Bobrovsky bouncing back from a down year in 2020-21 and six scorers to date with 32 points or more.
Jonathan Huberdeau has a whopping 55 points (15 goals and 40 assists) while trade acquisition Sam Reinhart has 12 goals and 23 assists (35 points) and elite defenseman Aaron Ekblad has 35 points himself (10 G, 25 A). Forwards Carter Verhaeghe, Anthony Duclair and Aleksander Barkov (arguably the NHL's best two-way forward who has 32 points in 28 games) round out the top six.