The final time the Seattle Kraken got here to Colorado on Nov. 5, they had been 1-5-1 of their earlier seven video games. It is six weeks later and they’re in the identical place.
Seattle heads to Denver on Sunday night time on an almost equivalent skid, one win in six video games (1-4-1), and with one other drawback — a fast turnaround.
The Kraken misplaced 6-2 at Vegas on Saturday night time and must lace up their skates lower than 20 hours later. It is a powerful scenario, particularly for a struggling group, whereas attempting to combine a brand new ahead into the system.
Seattle traded for younger winger Kaapo Kakko this week to spice up an offense that has scored simply three objectives throughout a four-game dropping streak. Kakko, 23, was acquired from the New York Rangers and remains to be adjusting to taking part in on the alternative coast.
Kakko has 4 objectives and 10 assists however has been with out a level in his first two video games with the Kraken. With the absence of captain Jordan Eberle, who has been out since having surgical procedure on his pelvis in November, Seattle was missing one other large presence in entrance of the web.
“You are all the time searching for larger our bodies that may get to the entrance,” Kraken common supervisor Ron Francis stated after buying and selling for Kakko. “We expect if you return in his draft yr, there is a purpose why the Rangers took him at No. 2. He was an actual good participant at that time, and for no matter purpose it simply hasn’t panned out for him.”
Seattle, which misplaced 6-3 at Colorado on Nov. 5, has solely two gamers with greater than 10 objectives — Jared McCann and Oliver Bjorkstrand, who each have 11.
The Avalanche haven’t got the identical points because the Kraken. They’ve two of the highest three scorers within the NHL. Nathan MacKinnon leads the league with 55 factors (14 objectives, 41 assists) and Mikko Rantanen is third with 50 factors (19 objectives, 31 assists), the one group within the league with two gamers with 50 or extra factors.
Cale Makar leads all defensemen in scoring with 42 factors (10 objectives, 32 assists) for Colorado, which has received six of its final eight.
The Avalanche particular groups have been key to the current surge. Colorado has killed off 20 of 21 penalties since shaking up their goaltender place. Scott Wedgewood was acquired from the Nashville Predators for Justus Annunen on Nov. 30, and Colorado traded Alexandar Georgiev to the San Jose Sharks for Mackenzie Blackwood on Dec. 9.
Colorado has allowed simply 9 objectives in its six wins because the first commerce and 16 complete in eight video games.
Coach Jared Bednar says the change in goaltenders has made a distinction on particular groups.
“After we made the goalie switches, you see the place our penalty kill goes,” Bednar stated. “The analytics have been good all yr. I am not placing it on our previous goaltending, as a result of that is not truthful, both, however goalies have their strengths and weaknesses, and it looks as if we have a pair guys right here now which are actually in tune with our penalty kill.
“We’re getting the saves we want. We’re getting the whistles we want. They’ve simply been actually sharp.”
–Area Stage Media