Bruins Aim to Bounce Back, Kraken Look for Consistency in Seattle Showdown
Bruins Look to Bounce Back After Humiliating Loss, Kraken Search for Consistency
The Boston Bruins (15-12-3) will visit Seattle for a crucial cross-conference clash with the Seattle Kraken (14-14-2) on Thursday, December 12. The puck drop is scheduled for 10:00 PM ET at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA, as both teams look to set the tone for the second half of their respective seasons.
This game will wrap up their two-game regular-season series, with the Bruins having taken the first meeting 2-0 on November 3. As the Bruins aim to rebound from a crushing defeat, the Kraken will try to build on their rare successes and establish some momentum. Boston enters as a slight favorite at -118 on the moneyline, with the total set at 5.5 goals.
Bruins Look to Recover From Brutal 8-1 Loss
The Boston Bruins are coming off one of their most disappointing defeats of the season, a lopsided 8-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets last Tuesday. This blowout ended a promising four-game win streak that had included victories over Montreal (6-3), Detroit (3-2 OT), Chicago (4-2), and Philadelphia (4-3 OT). Despite a strong start to their five-game road trip, the Bruins collapsed in the third period, allowing five goals in the final frame.
David Pastrnak, who scored his 10th goal of the season in the loss to Winnipeg, has been one of the Bruins’ lone bright spots. Despite his performance, Jeremy Swayman had a rough outing, surrendering eight goals on 35 shots, bringing his season stats to a 9-10-2 record, with a 3.27 GAA and an .885 save percentage.
In contrast, Joonas Korpisalo has been the more reliable of the two Bruins goalies, boasting a 6-2-1 record, a 2.40 GAA, and a .909 save percentage. The Bruins’ defensive struggles have been a key theme this season, as they rank 22nd in the NHL in goals allowed per game, giving up 3.17 goals per game. Their offensive output has been equally underwhelming, scoring just 2.53 goals per game (28th). Additionally, the Bruins’ power-play percentage is the worst in the league at just 12.7% (14-for-110), putting added pressure on their already struggling defense and goaltending.
Kraken’s Inconsistent Form Continues
The Seattle Kraken have been in similarly inconsistent form, dropping six of their last ten games. After a thrilling 7-5 win over the New York Rangers on the road, the Kraken followed up with back-to-back losses: a 3-2 defeat to the New Jersey Devils and a 2-1 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers. Despite strong performances, Seattle has struggled to capitalize on opportunities and maintain consistency.
The Kraken battled the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Panthers, to a shootout on Tuesday, but ultimately came up short. Despite being outshot 33-18, Seattle managed to secure one point, with Chandler Stephenson scoring his third goal of the season. Joey Daccord had a solid game in goal, stopping 32 of 34 shots, but ultimately allowed two goals in the shootout, leaving him with a 12-6-2 record, a 2.42 GAA, and a .916 save percentage.
Seattle has been decent defensively, ranking 13th in goals allowed per game at 2.97, but they haven’t been able to score with enough consistency, ranking 18th in goals scored per game (2.97). Their power-play unit also lags behind, converting just 16 of 91 opportunities (24th overall). With Daccord likely to start again, the Kraken will need more offensive production from their stars, including Jaden Schwartz and Vince Dunn, if they want to keep pace with the Bruins.
Conclusion
The Boston Bruins will be eager to forget their heavy loss to the Jets and return to their winning ways. Despite their struggles this season, they are still one of the NHL’s more talented teams, with Pastrnak leading the charge and Korpisalo offering a more consistent presence in goal. The Seattle Kraken, however, are a dangerous team at home and have shown flashes of brilliance, but their inconsistency remains a major issue.
Unlock Winning Insights!
As the Bruins and Kraken battle it out, make sure you have the best information at your fingertips. Our data packages provide in-depth analysis and statistics that can help you make informed decisions and increase your chances of winning big this season!
Don’t miss out! Click the button below to explore our data packages and elevate your game strategy today!
