Fansided

3 Keys to Victory for Seattle Kraken vs Carolina Hurricanes

By Chris Donovan |
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 17: Andre Burakovsky #95 of the Seattle Kraken scores a power-play goal against Frederik Andersen #31 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at Climate Pledge Arena on October 17, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. It was Burakovsky's 300th career point. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 17: Andre Burakovsky #95 of the Seattle Kraken scores a power-play goal against Frederik Andersen #31 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at Climate Pledge Arena on October 17, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. It was Burakovsky's 300th career point. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Here we are again. Another pregame post, and another game where the Seattle Kraken are playing for their first win of the season. I am still processing the last game against Colorado, and digesting the reality of the Kraken’s season thus far. Not pretty to be honest, and yet I write.

And yet I write because I love this team.

The Seattle Kraken (0-3-1) have not put together a complete game this season. We have seen glimpses of great hockey from different positions groups, but nothing that should have, or will win hockey games. Something needs to give, and something needs to change.

The Carolina Hurricanes (3-1-0) come to town, and I really believe that this is a winnable game, in spite of both team’s records. The Canes, with an impressive 3-1-0 record, are not as good as they appear. Their goalies have actually been pretty lousy (statistically), but the team has played good enough to win.

Carolina’s starting goalie Frederik Andersen is 2-0-0, with a 4.14 goals against average, and a .855 save percentage. Backup goalie Antti Raanta is not much better (1-1-0, 3.17GAA, .838 SV%). Let’s light these fools up! Here are the 3 Keys to Victory for Seattle Kraken vs Carolina Hurricanes.

Seattle Kraken need to get back to basics

The Seattle Kraken need to get back to their identity and do the small things that make them special. So far, the Kraken look like a team that is trying too hard to get out of this slump. We cannot score goals. In four games this season, the Kraken have scored 3 goals. That is 0.75 goals per game.

It really does not get much worse than that. At the start of this season I figured the Kraken would be one of the few teams that would not get shut out all season. Seattle was the best team in the NHL at scoring 5-on-5 goals. Time to get back to basics.

An obvious regression in scoring is due this season, after pretty much every player on the roster had a career year. So how do we get back to what made us special? We take the game one shift at a time. Win each shift. Do not look at the clock, do not look at the scoreboard. Just take this game one shift at a time. Good things will happen.

The Kraken thrive when they get the puck deep in the offensive zone, forecheck their guts out, and score an ugly goal. We have the forwards to do that against a not very good Hurricane team.

Kraken offense needs to wake up tonight (change the record)

The Kraken offense has an opportunity to get back on track against a pair of sub par goalies and an overrated Hurricanes team. The Kraken played a great game against Colorado, they just could not score. Colorado is a great team, a Stanley Cup favorite. No shame in losing to them. If the offense plays the same way against Carolina, they should see much more scoring.

The Kraken top line has scored one goal this season, so the onus is really on them. They are the top dogs on this team and they need to get the scoring going. Matty Beniers needs to have a big game. A breakout game. Dude won rookie of the year last season, no sophomore slump, he’s too good for that. If the Kraken are going to win this game, Beniers, Jared McCann, and Jordan Eberle must get on the scoresheet. Plain and simple, it starts with them.

Secondary scoring would be nice, but at this point any scoring would be nice. The most exciting player so far this season has been Kailer Yamamoto, expect another goal from him. I really want to see André Burakovsky score.

The Kraken need to slow down Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen

Sebastian Aho is a star, and Teuvo Teravainen has been white hot to start the season. The Kraken forwards will need to neutralize these two players if they are going to win. Plain and simple. Seattle has the players to dominate these two guys. Aho has started slow, but has the ability to catch fire, look for Jamie Oleksiak, Vince Dunn, Beniers, and Yanni Gourde to shadow him.

Teravainen can score, and has started the season with 4 goals, 1 assist and 5 points in 4 games. He alone has 1 more goal than the entire Kraken team, combined. Seattle needs to get physical with Teravainen and push him outside. If they can keep him away from the high scoring areas (the house) they will keep him off the scoresheet. If they can keep these guys from scoring, the Kraken will win this game.

Brandon Tanev is out (lower body injury).

Carolina is overrated and this is a game that the Kraken should win if they can get back to basics and play Kraken hockey. Faceoff drops at 7:00 PM PDT on ROOT-NW.

Fear the deep!

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