3 Game Essentials | Kraken at Canucks | Feb. 21

One: Cut down on opponent scoring chances, seize rebounds on offense

The Kraken are now 11-2-1 in games in which they surrendered two goals or less. As per Kraken colleague Alison Lukan, Seattle allowed eight scoring chances off the rush and eight odd-man rush chances. Both were the highest totals in each category in the last 10 games. It's a trend to reverse, which could well translate to winning the tight one-goal games in which Kraken coach Dave Hakstol has said his squad needs to be comfortable.
On the offensive end, Hakstol is urging his team, especially the forwards, to work on second-chance opportunities in the opposing zone, whether it is getting to rebounds or winning the pucks back before the foe can exit the zone.

Two: Focus on Kraken: Goalie choices

With the revised schedule placing the Kraken in Vancouver Monday night and back at Climate Pledge Arena 24 hours later to face the New York Islanders in a makeup game Tuesday, the Seattle coaching staff will most likely start Grubauer one night and Chris Driedger the other.
Sunday was a team off-day, so check back on the Kraken app and website Monday mid-day for updates on the goalie decision. In either case, Seattle needs both goaltenders to keep working toward getting their save percentage above .900.

Three: Know the Foe: Vancouver Canucks (23-22-6, 6th in Pacific Division)

Vancouver is coming off a disappointing 7-4 home loss to Anaheim, the team above the Canucks in the Pacific Division standings. The Canucks went down 4-0 early, then 5-0, not recovering and playing what players and midseason-hired head coach Bruce Boudreau deemed the worst performance since the veteran coach joined the organization - though it was the second of the last three home games in which VAN trailed 5-0.
Boudreau is widely labeled as a players' coach but make no mistake, he can be blunt when his squads need a wakeup call: "We all know the importance of this game. To not come out with that sense of urgency is bothersome," the Canucks coach said post-game Saturday.
The Vancouver top line of J.T. Miller, captain Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser managed just two shots on goal Saturday and star-goalie-in-the-making Thatcher Demko was pulled after giving up the aforementioned five goals on the first 14 shots of the game. Expect all four to respond to their new coach and be better Monday in what will be the second game back for capacity crowds in Vancouver.