One: Keep the offense rolling – The Kraken have wasted no time showing signs of the offensive improvement they were looking for entering the season. The Kraken scored 13 goals in their first three games of the season, two of which were 6-1 wins. They need to keep that momentum rolling through Tuesday’s game—especially against a Vegas team that is coming off a Stanley Cup final appearance.
Eleven different players recorded at least one point in Sunday’s 6-1 victory, with Berkly Catton, Mackie Samoskevich and Chandler Stephenson each recording two points. Samoskevich led the way with the first two-goal game of his NHL career, while Bobby McMann, Shane Wright and Jordan Eberle also found the back of the net.
Vegas presents a significant challenge, making it important for Seattle to continue to create offense throughout the lineup rather than relying on one or two players to generate chances.
Two: Limit Vegas’ top-end offense – The Golden Knights are a team that tends to be loaded with offensive firepower, but Jack Eichel remains the player Seattle will need to account for every time he steps over the boards. He enters Tuesday night’s game having recorded at least one point in each of Vegas’ first three games, while Mark Stone, Mitch Marner and Victor Olofsson give the Golden Knights plenty of additional scoring threats throughout their lineup.
Seattle will need to focus on limiting the time and space available to Vegas’ top players rather than focusing on one individual player. The Golden Knights are able to create offense off the rush, capitalize on turnovers and generate chances when they establish possession in the offensive zone. Maintaining a strong defensive effort to limit those opportunities and prevent Vegas’ top-end talent from dictating the game.
Three: Make special teams count – Seattle entered the season looking for an improvement on both sides of special teams after ranking 31st in the NHL on the penalty kill and 20th on the power play last season.
The Kraken’s penalty kill was tested early in the season, including against Edmonton, when the team successfully killed off all three of the Oilers’ power-play opportunities. Calgary did eventually score a power-play goal on Sunday, but Seattle’s five-on-five play and offensive production had already put the game out of reach.
Vegas, meanwhile, used the power play to take a 2-1 lead in Sunday’s win over Vancouver, with Eichel assisting on Olofsson’s goal. Seattle will need to stay out of the penalty box while taking advantage of their own opportunities with the man advantage.
Projected line (not official):
McCann – Beniers – Samoskevich
McMann – Stephenson – Eberle
Kakko – Catton – Wright
Winterton – Gaudreau – Douglas
Dunn – Larsson
Evans – Montour
Lindgren – Ottavainen
Daccord
