Kraken vs Canucks Preview Vancouver Hosts Seattle in Crucial Pacific Clash

Kraken vs. Canucks: Vancouver Looks to Build Momentum Against Struggling Seattle

The Pacific Division playoff race continues to heat up as the Seattle Kraken travel north to take on the Vancouver Canucks in a key matchup Saturday afternoon. Both teams are fighting for playoff positioning, with the Canucks coming off a much-needed victory and the Kraken looking to snap a five-game losing streak. Seattle enters this game after a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche, while Vancouver edged out the San Jose Sharks 4-3 to end a three-game losing skid.

In the last 10 encounters between these two teams, Vancouver has had the upper hand with a 6-4 advantage, though Seattle has won four of the last five matchups, including a 5-2 victory in their most recent meeting on February 22, 2024. As both teams struggle to keep pace in a highly competitive Pacific Division, this game holds significant playoff implications for both sides.

Seattle Kraken: Battling to Regain Momentum on the Road

Seattle’s season has been marked by inconsistency, and the team now finds itself on a five-game losing streak heading into Saturday’s contest. With a record of 15-19-2, the Kraken sit in 6th place in the Pacific Division, 17 points behind the division-leading Vegas Golden Knights. They are also 11 points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the final guaranteed playoff spot in the Pacific.

Offensively, Seattle has struggled, ranking 23rd in the league in goals scored with an average of 2.78 per game. While their power play operates at just 18.5% (20th in the NHL), the Kraken have been more solid on the penalty kill, with an 80% success rate (15th in the league). However, defensively, they are giving up 3.11 goals per game, ranking tied for 20th in the NHL, and their recent performances suggest that their struggles on both sides of the puck are contributing to their ongoing losing streak.

In their loss to Colorado, the Kraken had difficulty generating consistent offense, especially after a brief lead in the second period. Despite being outshot 29-19, they kept the game close early but faltered late, allowing two unanswered goals in the third period. Joey Daccord, who made 24 saves in the loss, will likely be the starting goalie again for Seattle. The Kraken will need a much more disciplined and dynamic effort if they hope to escape their slump and steal a victory on the road.

Vancouver Canucks: Seeking Back-to-Back Wins as Playoff Push Intensifies

Vancouver snapped a three-game losing streak with a hard-fought 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks in their previous outing. The Canucks are now 17-10-7 on the season, sitting in 4th place in the Pacific Division, just two points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the final playoff spot. Vancouver has struggled with consistency, particularly on defense, where they rank 22nd in the league in goals allowed (3.12 goals per game).

Offensively, the Canucks have been more productive, ranking tied for 11th in goals scored with an average of 3.15 per game. Their power play has been a bright spot, converting 22.4% of their chances (11th in the NHL), and their penalty kill has been solid at 80.8%, placing them 12th in the league.

In their victory over San Jose, Vancouver demonstrated strong offensive depth, with key contributions from Brock Boeser, Kiefer Sherwood, and Elias Pettersson. Pettersson, in particular, had a standout game, scoring twice to bring his season total to 10 goals. While the Canucks were outshot 29-24, they held off San Jose in the final period, thanks to a strong performance from goaltender Thatcher Demko, who made 26 saves. Demko will likely start again for Vancouver as they look to build on this win and secure another important two points.

Conclusion

The stakes are high for both teams as they vie for playoff positioning in the Pacific Division. Vancouver will be looking to build on their hard-earned win over San Jose, while Seattle desperately needs to break their losing streak to stay in the playoff hunt. This matchup promises to be a battle of offensive firepower against defensive woes, and with both teams having plenty to prove, it should make for an exciting game in Vancouver.

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