Key Highlights
- The Minnesota Wild travel to Seattle to face the Kraken in a crucial matchup.
- The Wild seek redemption after losing their six-game point streak against the Kings in Los Angeles.
- The Kraken have been outscored by the Wild 44-28 in all-time series.
- Joel Eriksson Ek led the Wild with three points (1-2=3) in a previous game against Seattle.
NHL Game Preview: Wild at Kraken
The Minnesota Wild are on the road this Thursday, January 8th, as they travel to Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle to take on the Kraken. This game comes after a tough loss against the Kings in Los Angeles, where the Wild failed to maintain their six-game point streak. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if the Wild can bounce back from this setback.
Wild’s Struggle Against the Kings
The Minnesota Wild faced a significant challenge when they lost 2-1 in regulation against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night. This loss snapped their impressive six-game point streak and sent ripples through the team, as they now look to regain their footing before taking on a strong Kraken squad.
Key Match-up Stats
The game preview also highlights some interesting stats for tonight’s matchup:
- Power Play: The Wild and the Kraken have comparable power play percentages, with Seattle at 22.7% and Minnesota at 22.4%.
- Penalty Kill: The Kraken are slightly better on the penalty kill, holding a 70.4% success rate compared to Minnesota’s 76.9%.
- Faceoffs: Both teams are evenly matched in faceoff situations with each securing 46.8% of possession.
Wild Leaders Against Kraken
The Wild have several players who excel against the Kraken:
- Kirill Kaprizov: With 15 points (6-9=15) in just 10 career games, Kaprizov is a key player for the Wild.
- Matt Boldy: Leading with 14 points (8-6=14), Boldy has been a standout against Seattle.
- Mats Zuccarello: With 13 points (5-8=13) in 11 games, Zuccarello has shown his value against the Kraken.
Kraken Leaders Against Wild
The Kraken also have some notable players who perform well against the Wild:
- Jaden Schwartz: With 29 points (14-15=29) in 46 games, Schwartz is a key scorer for Seattle.
- Ryan Hartman: He has contributed significantly with 12 points (5-7=12) in just 11 games against the Wild.
The Kraken have made some recent transactions to strengthen their roster, including the acquisition of Boris Katchouk from Tampa Bay. This move aims to bolster the team’s lineup as they prepare for a challenging game against the Wild.
Game Notes and Analysis
The matchup has significant historical context with the Wild having won the last six games played at Seattle, earning a point in eight of the last nine meetings overall (7-1-1). Minnesota also holds an upper hand in scoring, outscoring the Kraken 44-28 in their all-time series.
For fans and analysts alike, tonight’s game offers plenty to watch for. The Wild will be looking to capitalize on their historical success against Seattle while hoping to avoid another disappointing night like they had against the Kings. Meanwhile, the Kraken aim to prove that they can compete with a team of the Wild’s caliber.
Stay tuned as we bring you live updates and analysis from Climate Pledge Arena tonight.