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Kraken Bid to Build Off ‘Character Win’ in Clash vs. Stars
The Seattle Kraken are riding high after a thrilling 5-4 shootout victory over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night and will look to carry that momentum into their matchup against the Dallas Stars on Sunday. The Kraken, who rallied from multiple deficits, are aiming to build on what captain Jordan Eberle called a “character win” as they continue their three-game road trip.
Kraken’s Resilience on Display
The Kraken showcased tremendous resilience in their win over Minnesota, overcoming 2-0, 3-2, and 4-3 deficits to force a shootout, where Eberle netted the winner. Eberle’s leadership, exemplified by his two goals and shootout winner, has already made an impact after he was named the team’s second captain before the season.
“They got the lead three times — we came back all three times,” said Eberle. “That’s a character win. Those are the kinds of wins that build and propel seasons.”
Tye Kartye and Jared McCann also found the back of the net for Seattle, with McCann’s clutch goal at 16:34 of the third period tying the game at 4-4. Kraken coach Dan Bylsma acknowledged that the team can’t rely on coming from behind too often but praised their ability to fight back.
“I don’t think you want to get in the habit of having to do that,” Bylsma said. “But it was good for our team to respond.”
Bylsma made a tactical adjustment by moving Shane Wright to center the second line alongside McCann and Eberle, which paid dividends as Wright had a plus-1 rating in over 16 minutes of ice time.
Stars Looking to Stay Perfect
The Dallas Stars, meanwhile, have started the season strong and improved to 2-0-0 with a 3-0 victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday. Goaltender Jake Oettinger was stellar, making 34 saves to earn his 11th career shutout. The Stars have leaned on Oettinger’s reliability, with captain Jamie Benn expressing the team’s confidence in their goalie.
“He’s rock-solid, and we have a lot of belief in him,” Benn said. “Every night we feel like when we go on the ice we’re going to win because of him.”
Tyler Seguin scored twice, including an empty-netter, while Benn added a goal and Mason Marchment provided two assists in the win. It was a well-rounded performance for Dallas, and head coach Pete DeBoer was pleased with the team’s discipline and smart play during their home opener.
“The home opener, your natural reaction as a player is to try and put on a show. I thought we did a good job of playing within ourselves tonight,” DeBoer said. “That’s a tough team to play against… This is what it’s about. It’s about winning games.”
Key Matchups and What to Watch
1. Jordan Eberle vs. Jake Oettinger
Eberle has been the Kraken’s key offensive player, and his leadership will be crucial as they face a hot goalie in Oettinger. With Eberle riding high after his two-goal performance and shootout heroics, how he and the Kraken attack Oettinger will be key in this game.
2. Kraken Power Play vs. Stars Penalty Kill
Seattle showed resilience in their comeback win, but they’ll need to capitalize on special teams opportunities against Dallas. The Stars have been solid defensively, and the Kraken will look to improve their power play execution in this tough matchup.
3. Goaltending Duel: Oettinger vs. Kraken’s Netminder
Jake Oettinger has been nearly unbeatable to start the season. While the Kraken haven’t named their starter yet, whoever is in net for Seattle will need to match Oettinger’s level to give the Kraken a chance, especially with Dallas showing they can win low-scoring games.
Injury Notes
The Stars may be without defenseman Matt Dumba, who played just over six minutes on Saturday before leaving the game with a lower-body injury. Dumba is expected to miss the Kraken game as he will be re-evaluated Monday. His absence could open up opportunities for Seattle to exploit the Stars’ defensive depth.
NHL GAME PREDICTIONS & BETTING TIPSGame Outlook
The Kraken will need another complete team effort if they hope to hand the Stars their first loss of the season. Jordan Eberle’s leadership and Seattle’s ability to rally in tough situations have been promising, but Dallas’ structured play and Oettinger’s strong start in goal make the Stars a formidable opponent.
Look for the Kraken to continue their aggressive approach, while the Stars aim to maintain their solid defensive structure and capitalize on the offensive contributions of players like Seguin and Benn. This matchup will likely be a tight contest, with the winner determined by which team can take advantage of key moments and special teams play.
Prediction
Given the form of both teams, expect a close game with both clubs coming off wins. The Stars’ home-ice advantage and Oettinger’s hot start might give them the edge, but if the Kraken can replicate their resilience from Saturday and generate offense against a stingy Dallas defense, they have a chance to steal a win.
