Kraken can’t make the most of their chances in loss to Predators
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – The Seattle Kraken would end their six game homestand with a two to four loss to the Nashville Predators. Seattle would dominate in shots, but ultimately failed to capitalize off of the opportunities that they generated. The Predators would be able to take advantage of the Seattle mistakes, with a power play goal and a goal that came off of Vince Dunn’s skate.
Following an incredible performance last game against one of the league’s best in the Florida Panthers, Seattle looked like it’s defensively sloppy self. Nashville’s Luke Kunin would beat Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer with a five-hole goal, Filip Forsberg would be able to bring the puck from net to net to score, Mattias Ekholm would have his wrap around pass bounce off of Vince Dunn’s skate into goal, and lastly Matt Duchene would score a power play goal as he was left wide open. That power play that Duchene scored on would happen because Seattle was caught with too many skaters on the ice.
Seattle goaltender Philipp Grubauer would not have a good game despite playing well early in this contest. Grubauer had been on a streak of good performances, but was beat via the five hole (something he struggled with earlier in the season), and should have made the save on the Duchene goal as well. Head coach Dave Hakstol would speak about his starting goaltender’s performance in the game.
“He had two good saves early in the hockey game… the first goal is one he’s gotta stop, second one as well. Those are things that can push a team back on their heels. Not his best, he’ll need to be better in Pittsburgh,” Hakstol would remark.
A positive to note from this game would be that while yes, the team did not capitalize on as many chances as they should have, the offensive shifts did still generate shots. Seattle put 35 shots on Nashville goaltender Juuse Saros, eight more than the Predators put on Grubauer. The Kraken were able to earn four power plays, scoring once. Centerman and team points leader Jared McCann would reflect on the team’s power play as of late.
“Obviously we can be a lot better, right? We feel like we have kinda gotten back to passing the puck around too much and not shooting. We need to focus on getting the pucks in and getting traffic, and they’ll go in for us,” McCann would state.
Looking back on the six game homestand, there are pros and cons to reflect on. Beating Chicago and San Jose in tight games, losing in bad fashion to the Kings and Blues, and beating the Panthers in electric fashion. For a few games, you had excellent goaltending and defensive play. What Jordan Eberle said after the loss to St. Louis will be something to note going forward, looking to see if this team is able to establish an identity for itself as well as gradually improve.
Seattle will not return home until February 9th, when they take on the Arizona Coyotes in the first of four rescheduled home games. The Kraken will play their next game on the road, against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, January 27th with a 4PM PST puck drop.