The Seattle Kraken will look to close out their season series against the Calgary Flames with another win tonight in Alberta, having already taken two of the first three matchups—both of which came in thrilling overtime fashion. Puck drops at 6 P.M. PT.
Seattle enters the night at 30-36-5, with recent results not falling their way, but fans should keep their eyes on more than just the win column. This matchup gives us another look at the next generation of Kraken talent beginning to find their footing at the NHL level.
Young core taking center stage
All eyes are on the line centered by Matty Beniers, which has quietly become one of the most intriguing forward groups on the roster. Beniers has been flanked by Kaapo Kakko since the winger arrived from New York, and now the Kraken have added another promising Finn in 20-year-old Jani Nyman to the trio.
Nyman has only played a handful of games since his call-up, but he's already making an impact coming off a two assist game in a top-line role and has shown early flashes of chemistry with Beniers and Kakko. It’s a rare chance to see what could be Seattle’s top line of the future forming in real time, and the early results are worth watching closely.
Also not to be forgotten—Shane Wright continues to thrive in a top-six role and has now climbed into the top three in goals and points for the Kraken this season, despite limited ice time early in the year. If head coach Dan Bylsma continues trusting these younger skaters with bigger minutes, it could be the most important development in this final stretch of the season.
Will Joey get the call in net again?
Joey Daccord has started all three games against Calgary this season, going 2-1 and helping the Kraken steal both overtime victories. But as solid as Daccord has been overall this season, his post–All-Star break numbers have taken a hit—mirroring a similar dip he experienced last year. That could open the door for Philipp Grubauer to get more starts down the stretch, especially with the team leaning more toward a 50-50 split.
Whoever gets the nod will face a Flames team that’s heating up at just the right time. Calgary is 5-2-3 in their last ten games, with contributions up and down the lineup and a physical edge that could test Seattle’s younger skaters.
Closing out the series with confidence
This is the final regular-season meeting between these two Pacific Division rivals. The Kraken have already proven they can keep pace with Calgary—winning two of the first three matchups by a single goal each time. A third win tonight would not only give them the season series, but also serve as a confidence boost as this young roster looks to finish the season on a high note.
Whether it’s Beniers, Wright, or Nyman making the highlight reel, there’s no shortage of reasons for Kraken fans to tune in.