After a frustrating shutout loss to Washington, the Seattle Kraken (21-25-3) are back on home ice this afternoon to face the Pittsburgh Penguins (20-22-8). The last time these teams met, the Kraken claimed a 4-2 victory—a result that prompted the Penguins to demote longtime goalie Tristan Jarry to their AHL affiliate. It’s been a rough season for Pittsburgh’s netminders, as they now rank dead last in the NHL in goals against per game (3.62) and have yet to record a single shutout.
Seattle will look to exploit that vulnerability with its top line of Jaden Schwartz, Matty Beniers, and Kaapo Kakko, a trio that has shown impressive chemistry. Meanwhile, Shane Wright is one to watch after logging a career-high in ice time during the Kraken’s previous game. Whether head coach Dan Bylsma continues to roll out bigger minutes for the young forward remains to be seen, but his recent performance suggests he’s earned the opportunity to stay on the ice.
On the back end, Joey Daccord is expected to make his ninth consecutive appearance in net—though two of those were in relief. Daccord’s steady play has instilled confidence in the Kraken’s aggressive approach, and Bylsma appears committed to giving him the crease for the foreseeable future. With both teams sitting outside playoff contention, this matchup offers Seattle a chance to bounce back and reignite its offense against a Penguins team still searching for goaltending solutions.
Puck drops at 1:00 PM PT at Climate Pledge Arena. If the Kraken can leverage Pittsburgh’s defensive struggles, they’ll have a strong shot at getting back in the win column and giving the home fans something to cheer about.