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Kraken Aim to Rebound Against Senators in Ottawa
The Seattle Kraken, currently battling through injuries and lineup changes, will face off against the struggling Ottawa Senators on Saturday, hoping to build momentum after a challenging start to their road trip.
Seattle’s opening 8-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens showcased a stellar performance from defenseman Brandon Montour, who notched a hat trick along with an assist. Montour’s absence was heavily felt in their following game, a 4-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, as he returned home to Seattle for the birth of his second child. Alongside Montour, the Kraken were also missing Vince Dunn, who was sidelined due to a mid-body injury, leaving the Kraken defense stretched thin.
“Those are big losses for us. Those are key players,” said Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord, recognizing the impact of missing two of their most productive defensemen.
The Kraken adapted with young defenders Ryker Evans and Cale Fleury stepping up. Fleury, called up from Coachella Valley of the AHL, has familiarity with coach Dan Bylsma’s system, having developed under his guidance in the minors. Bylsma expressed confidence in Fleury’s abilities.
“I’ve got a lot of experience with Cale over the last handful of years. A lot of trust and confidence in his game,” Bylsma said. “He’s going to be able to step in and know exactly what we’re doing.”
Seattle’s lone goal against Toronto came from forward Eeli Tolvanen, who scored with Daccord pulled for an extra attacker late in the third period. Tolvanen emphasized the need to return to the team’s identity, known as “Kraken hockey,” with fast, physical play.
“I think it’s our play with the puck — clean that up,” Tolvanen said. “Get back to Kraken hockey. Play physical, play fast.”
Senators Also Struggling to Regain Form
Meanwhile, the Ottawa Senators will be on the second game of a back-to-back after a narrow 2-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Friday. The Senators put up a strong effort, firing 41 shots on Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin, who thwarted all but one attempt.
“I don’t really know what to say, their goalie played unbelievable,” said Senators forward Tim Stutzle, as he reflected on Ottawa’s inability to capitalize on numerous scoring chances. “If you outshoot a team like that by 20 shots, you know you played a pretty good game.”
Despite outshooting the Rangers 20-5 in the third period, the Senators came up short. Coach Travis Green was still encouraged by his team’s performance, even though their previously formidable power play, second in the league at 42.9 percent, went 0-for-5.
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“I thought we played an unreal game,” added forward Michael Amadio. “We just ran into a hot goalie.”
With both teams eager for a win, Saturday’s game sets up a clash of two squads aiming to tighten their play and capitalize on opportunities. The Kraken will need their next-man-up mentality more than ever with key players still out, while the Senators will look to sustain offensive pressure and convert power-play chances to break their slump.
