Fansided

“Get to the Choppaa!” Seattle Kraken Shutout in Nashville

By Chris Donovan |
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 12: Adam Larsson #6 and Philipp Grubauer #31 of the Seattle Kraken watch as a shot by Gustav Nyquist #14 of the Nashville Predators crosses into the net for a goal during the third period at Bridgestone Arena on October 12, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. Nashville defeats Seattle 3-0. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 12: Adam Larsson #6 and Philipp Grubauer #31 of the Seattle Kraken watch as a shot by Gustav Nyquist #14 of the Nashville Predators crosses into the net for a goal during the third period at Bridgestone Arena on October 12, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. Nashville defeats Seattle 3-0. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Well, that sucked. The Seattle Kraken lost 3-0 to the Nashville Predators tonight. This was supposed to be an easier game for a frustrated Kraken squad. On a night where the team did really nothing to impress on offense, the team got what it should when you play a game the way we did. The boys probably can’t ‘get to the choppaaaaaa!’ fast enough.

Time to hit the road.

The first period was pretty intense, however the Kraken were outshot 15-12 and both goalies were solid. The Kraken did commit 2 penalties and once again the penalty kill was great. Period 2 was pathetic. The Kraken mustered a mere 4 shots on goal and gave away the first goal of the game on the power play when Colton Sissons made a nifty play and backhanded one past Grubauer.

The third period was not much better as the Kraken were not able to do much, except allow another goofy/bizarre goal, when Gustav Nyquist just threw the puck towards the net and the puck bounced off of Adam Larsson’s skate and passed Grubauer. The best part of that sequence was watching Larsson beat on Filip Forsberg in front of the net, seconds before the goal went in.

Nashville iced the game with an empty netter. Boy, what a lousy showing by the Kraken offense. We need to get better boys, that is two awesome performances by Grubauer, wasted by a lack of execution.

Negatives

  • Offensive execution was just not there. Nashville had an answer for everything we tried
  • This was the second game in a row where we lost the majority of faceoffs. Nashville won 56% of the draws, that is not going to cut it. Alex Wennberg had a rough night in the faceoff circle going 3-11/27%.
  • Eeli Tolvanen was out there again on the second power play unit. I am not sure if this is for lack of depth (I do not know how that is possible with our roster) or because special teams and forwards’ coach Paul McFarland sees something we don’t, but adjustments are needed.
  • The Predators out hit us 25-18 (boy we could have used Turbo in this game)
  • Nashville won

Positives

  • Grubauer was awesome. This is two straight games where Gru played incredible hockey. This is something to build off of. He keeps playing inspiring hockey, and the team will find its way out of this early season offensive slump. He is proving last postseason was no fluke.
  • The Seattle Kraken penalty killing units were once again lights-out. This is 2 games in a row that we have been 100% on the PK. What a relief it is knowing that if (or when lately) we commit a penalty, it won’t come back to haunt us.
  • Matty Beniers won 67% of his defensive zone faceoffs.

Final Takeaways

The Kraken losing their second straight road game to start the season is not great, it isn’t all that bad though either. We are watching a team iron out the offensive wrinkles, while still playing strong defense and great goaltending. This feels like we flip-flopped last season’s strengths. Oh well. As I mentioned after Game 1, no team is going to go 82-0, or 81-1 for that matter.

The good news is, we get the focus on the St. Louis Blues next up on Saturday night, and we get to quote Arnold Schwarzenegger each time we play Nashville. Sorry, but I have to. Short memory fellas.

Fear the deep!

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