The Seattle Kraken (23-28-3) host the Detroit Red Wings (27-21-5) tonight, and the stage is set for a compelling rematch after a previous clash where Detroit exploded early. In that game, the Red Wings put up four first-period goals in less than eight minutes before scoring six unanswered to eventually cruise to a 6-2 victory. That matchup also marked a turning point for Seattle’s goaltending, as Philipp Grubauer was pulled early in back-to-back starts before later being sent down to the AHL—a move that underscored the Kraken’s ongoing struggles between consistency and change.
Tonight, Seattle will look to erase the memory of that dismal outing by mounting a spirited comeback on home ice. With Joey Daccord expected to answer the call between the pipes, the Kraken will need to tighten up defensively from the outset to avoid repeating past mistakes. Daccord has been a stabilizing force lately, and a solid performance from him could give Seattle the breathing room required to let their offense do what it does best.
On the offensive side, there’s renewed buzz around the top line of Jaden Schwartz, Matty Beniers, and Kaapo Kakko, a unit that’s slowly finding its rhythm as the season wears on. Their chemistry will be crucial if Seattle hopes to neutralize Detroit’s explosive scoring ability—a factor that proved decisive last time the two met.
Adding another layer of intrigue to tonight’s game is an ongoing debate within the Kraken organization. Rumor had it that GM Ron Francis initially wanted Detroit’s current head coach Todd McLellan—a man who has turned the Red Wings into a 14-4-1 unit and revived their playoff hopes since 2015—to helm the Kraken. Instead, Dan Bylsma was brought in, and while his system has been hit or miss, watching McLellan’s immediate success in Detroit raises questions about what the Kraken might have missed out on.
Puck drops at 7:00 PM PT at Climate Pledge Arena. Can the Kraken rebound from past setbacks and rewrite tonight’s script, or will the Red Wings continue to run away with games?