BUMP AND STACY
UPDATED: APRIL 22, 2023 AT 2:10 PM
Philipp Grubauer of the Seattle Kraken celebrates with teammates after a win in opposition to the Colorado Avalanche on April 18, 2023. (Dustin Bradford/Getty Photos)
Saturday evening goes to be an enormous one as its the first-ever residence playoff sport for the Seattle Kraken.
The Kraken might have dropped Sport 2 to the Colorado Avalanche 3-2, however they’ve performed the defending champs very robust and head again residence after splitting two video games in Denver.
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So what ought to we make of the collection thus far? And what ought to we control going ahead? ESPN’s Linda Cohn, a SportsCenter anchor and NHL reporter, joined Seattle Sports activities’ Bump and Stacy on Friday to interrupt it down.
“In terms of the Seattle Kraken, I do know there’s part of this fan base … which are like, ‘Oh, we’re simply completely happy to be right here,’” she stated. “However no … you’re in it to win it. I don’t care if it’s your first time round, I don’t care it’s solely your second yr. Dave Hakstol’s crew, they’re a 100-point crew, they’ve confirmed they belong they usually have confirmed to the defending champs look out, they imply enterprise. They did that in Sport 1 they usually virtually pulled it off in Sport 2.”
Sport 1 went about in addition to it might have for the Kraken, who scored early, bought nice goaltending and gained 3-1.
Sport 2 began nicely with the Kraken leaping out to an early 2-0 lead, however the Avalanche clamped issues down after that, scoring three unanswered to get a 3-2 win and even the collection.
“The Avs needed to dig deep to discover a approach. They took benefit of a possibility and an enormous rebound left by Grubauer – who’s been sensational, by the best way, in these two video games,” Cohn stated. ” … They only didn’t permit Seattle to interrupt out of their zone. They form of slowed them down.”
The Kraken “know the way to create alternatives off their pace,” Cohn stated, however the Avs “took them down a notch once they needed to” in Sport 2 with a purpose to even the collection.
“They couldn’t do it the entire sport, however they did it sufficient to discover a strategy to create a possibility and win,” she stated. “That is going to be a protracted collection, people. It helps to be residence, hopefully, for Seattle followers’ sake, they usually use that to their benefit … It’s such a enjoyable crew to look at. Knock on wooden, now they’re getting the netminding, so something’s doable.”
Though nabbing two wins on the highway was proper there for the Kraken, that Seattle bought the cut up was precisely what the crew wanted to do, Cohn stated. Now, it units up what needs to be an unbelievable environment on Saturday.
“The followers are going to be out of this world, out of its thoughts loud. That’s all nice, however the Kraken have to remain on their mission and never get caught up in that and simply play their sport,” she stated.
What’s probably promising for the Kraken transferring ahead is that their finest skaters haven’t made a lot of an influence on the offensive aspect of issues.
Seattle’s prime line of Jordan Eberle, rookie Matty Beniers and main scorer Jared McCann have but to attain a single collective level.
That the Kraken are tied 1-1 heading residence with their prime line having been shutout thus far is definitely probably a superb factor, Cohn stated.
“Right here’s the actually excellent news: The highest line hasn’t even been an element for the Seattle Kraken but,” she stated. “You heard Jordan Eberle yesterday, he’s like, ‘We’re going to be higher and we’re going to be higher at residence.’ And the Kraken are going to want Jared McCann, Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle to do extra than simply play their regular, strong 200-foot sport. They’re going to have to begin producing for the Seattle Kraken to upset the reigning Stanley Cup champs.”
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