This exceptionally well written article about goalies, goalie development, and my Finns is very much worth a read. Thank you @strainsovhorror.bsky.social!
The Future is Finnish: Kraken Goalie Pipeline Benefiting From Developmental Success Overseas www.davyjoneslockerroom.com/the-future-i...
Thanks for following along, always happy to have you!
FINAL: 3-0 #Seakraken , goals from Daniel Sprong, Brandon Montour, Yanni Gourde (EN). First time shutting out another team this season
For the record, after they showed the replay from a low ice-level angle, it definitely did not hit Steven Stamkos on the way in. But the scramble net-front was so chaotic there was a chance.
Otherwise yes, distinct kicking motion on Novak's part.
Loud cheers as it's announced that Tommy Novak did indeed kick the puck into the net on Nashville's first goal-- initial call was a deflection. Looked like there was a chance Novak kicked it and the puck hit Stamkos on the way in, but the ruling says otherwise #Seakraken
Chandler Stephenson's whipping up some beautiful assists tonight. He's usually hovering net-front seeking out opportunities to make these tricky passes, but the connectivity hasn't been there with his teammates (for either physical or visionary reasons, take your pick) #Seakraken
Brandon Montour notches his 5th of the season and the #Seakraken are up 2-0. Chandler Stephenson’s not done with the pretty passes— he managed to rocket the puck across the ice between several Nashville skaters for the shot. Timing and power required to conquer the distance and pass through bodies
1-0 SEA, shots 27-14 SEA (!) after 40. Could be more than a one-goal game with the breadth of Seattle's chances, varied in location, pre-shot movement, game situation. Compared to their earlier win over NSH, tonight is a much more 'accurate' performance finishing-wise #Seakraken
Daniel Sprong with his first as a member of the #Seakraken *this season* to open the scoring. Nifty pass from Chandler Stephenson to set up the play— he moved the puck laterally to fake a shot and completely open up the net
Burakovsky looks better (or maybe more desperate?) with each game that he plays on the top line. He's seeing a bump in TOI of about 4 minutes.
Grand scheme it doesn't matter, but this has been an entertaining game thus far. Speaks to a liveliness on Seattle's part
Scoreless, shots 10-6 after 20. Big opportunities on the breakaway & power play for the #Seakraken, usually uncommon occurrences. Nashville's finding net-front pucks by accident (puck off Evans) and Seattle's cleaning them up nicely-- def./off. look cohesive (Nyquist breakaway)
Dan Bylsma explained that Shane Wright’s scratch was a means to “reset” him after a tough stretch.
Says “Shane’s game has been trending in not the best direction” and he wants the centerman to get back to playing “the way [he] played earlier in the season” #Seakraken
Third period's been allll New York. Productive offensive shifts are few and far between. Tying a 1-0 game might've been possible with the chances they had through the first two, but Zac Jones' goal to double the lead killed the momentum #Seakraken
Zac Jones to put #NYR up 2-0. Rangers throw the puck in the zone and Will Borgen’s caught flat-footed. Jones cruises in, shoots, and the puck hits Philipp Grubauer on the way in #Seakraken
Of course, we can confirm this postgame. But it's not atypical to throw in a fresh skater on the second half of a back-to-back
Bylsma didn't address Wright's scratch pregame (lines were a game-time decision), but said Wright's season-low TOI + his PP absence vs NYI were due to gameflow/Sprong's addition.
He's not displeased with Wright's play, making tonight's scratch more about deploying healthy legs than anything else
Case in point: Jaden Schwartz's third (!!!) point-blank shot could've been helped out by Chandler Stephenson, but the center was kind of loitering in the slot. Doesn't guarantee anything, but the more guys up in Jonathan Quick's line of sight the better.
1-0 NYR, shots 16-15 SEA after 40. Saw bigger chances traded more often that period, but ultimately it's New York that breaks the ice. Seattle's maintaining a quality attack but aren't getting the numbers around the net they need to tie the game #Seakraken
Alexis Lafrenière opens the scoring late in the second period.
Great pass off the walls from Artemi Panarin to set Lafrenière up for a backdoor tap-in. At least three skaters watching the puck net-front #Seakraken
Seattle's 1-5-0 all-time versus #NYR, but tonight marks the first time that the Rangers haven't scored a goal on the Kraken in the first period #Seakraken
Impressed by the way the #Seakraken are succeeding with uncontrolled, dump/chase entries through two periods. More often than not they're coming up with possession after hounding the puck despite the opposing D-corps pressure along the boards
Scoreless, shots 8-5 NYR after 20. Surprisingly strong offensive attempts for the home team (@ Jaden Schwartz), sporadic at first but increased in frequency. Philipp Grubauer holding his own, DZ coverage must stay tidy with as many long-range attempts as NY is trying #Seakraken
Matty Beniers and André Burakovsky look great so far. Beniers interrupted a 3-on-2 low in the DZ and fed Burakovsky a pass from behind the #NYR net for a slot shot. Maybe Burakovsky's best attempt of the last few games
Fairly fast pace here to start, shots 5-2 New York with the help of a defensive corps excelling at finding lanes from distance (Jacob Trouba looks particularly dangerous in that sense). Seattle's top six is finding net-front action but not connecting on everything #Seakraken
#Seakraken projected lines, via team. Shane Wright is scratched
McCann-Beniers-Burakovsky
Schwartz-Stephenson-Bjorkstrand
Kartye-Gourde-Tanev
Tolvanen-Meyers-Sprong
Oleksiak-Montour
Evans-Larsson
Mahura-Borgen
Bylsma told reporters Friday that they'd "see where he's at" probably "early next week."
I'd expect another update on Tuesday. The #Seakraken are off tomorrow after the back-to-back, and that's the next time they practice.
Will do my best to remember to post here, too🫡
Philipp Grubauer and Jonathan Quick lead their respective teams out for warmups.
No Vince Dunn, Jordan Eberle once again for the #Seakraken. No Shane Wright— Ben Meyers is skating. #NYR missing Filip Chytil, Jonny Brodzinski should replace him
1-1, shots 11-9 Seattle after 20. Fourth line is the chief source of attacking pressure for the #Seakraken. Maintaining possession is difficult against NY, faster to pucks and looking way more cohesive in their passing. Seattle has the shots but not the OZ structure/presence
Gourde, Engvall w goals
Joey Daccord and Ilya Sorokin lead their respective teams out for warmups.
No Vince Dunn or Jordan Eberle for the #Seakraken , but Daniel Sprong and Ben Meyers (recalled from Coachella Valley this morning) are both skating.