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The Seattle Kraken had a January to recollect going 11-3-1 of their 15 video games. They set an NHL file by sweeping their seven-game highway journey earlier within the month and completed January on the high of the Pacific Division. Here is a take a look at 5 tales from January 2023.
Matty Beniers Injury
During the Kraken’s win towards the Vancouver Canucks, Matty Beniers took a high open-ice hit and left the sport. Tyler Myers, who threw the hit did obtain a two-minute interference penalty on the play however didn’t obtain any additional self-discipline. Seattle’s star rookie additionally missed the ultimate two video games earlier than the All-Star Break.
Unfortunately, Beniers will miss the All-Star Game, however guaranteeing he’s wholesome and never coping with long-term unwanted effects is all of the Kraken care about in the mean time. If the harm is a concussion, which is suspected however the Kraken have but to confirm, speeding him again shouldn’t be of their finest curiosity long run. He is the current and way forward for this franchise so even when it means sitting him out a couple of video games post-All-Star Break, the Kraken should do the whole lot of their energy to make sure he’s at 100% earlier than he fits up for one more sport this season.
Kraken Finally Beat Canucks
While the Kraken’s streak was unforgettable, beating the Canucks for the primary time within the common season might have been one of the best second of the month. After falling the earlier six occasions which included blowing a number of leads in a 6-5 shootout loss again in December, Seattle hammered Vancouver 6-1 on Jan. 25 in entrance of the Climate Pledge Arena trustworthy. Led by former Canuck Jared McCann who had three factors, 10 gamers discovered the scoresheet with 5 recording multi-point video games.
The Kraken’s quest to defeat each group within the NHL now sits at two with solely the Tampa Bay Lightning and Philadelphia Flyers remaining. Seattle can doubtlessly cross a kind of groups off this yr as they’re set to face the Flyers twice within the month of February. Unfortunately, they must wait till 2023-24 to finish the problem because the Lightning took each video games this season.
Seattle Enters All-Star Break Top Of The Pacific
With 63 factors of their first 49 video games, the Kraken enter the All-Star Break on the high of the Pacific Divison. They additionally sit third within the Western Conference and eighth throughout the complete NHL. While they’re tied with the Los Angeles Kings in factors, they maintain the tiebreaker because of a greater factors proportion, extra regulation plus additional time wins, and lead the season collection 3-0.
Related: 3 Takeaways From Kraken’s First Franchise Win Over Canucks
The Kraken are hitting their stride on the proper time, however have to be cautious in the event that they wish to hold their spot on the high of the Pacific Division. The Edmonton Oilers are additionally catching hearth and sit simply three factors again with 60 factors in 50 video games and will knock the Kraken off if they arrive out of the break gradual. It is certain to be a good race all through the remainder of the marketing campaign with the division winner being topped probably on the ultimate day of the season.
Kraken Inconsistent After Winning Streak
The Kraken’s kind after their eight-game successful streak was regarding. To be truthful, they had been lacking a number of gamers together with Beniers, Justin Schultz and Jaden Schwartz for video games through the stretch, however general, struggled towards different potential playoff-bound groups. If not for video games towards backside feeders just like the Canucks and Columbus Blue Jackets, it is rather potential they might have ended the month dropping six of their ultimate seven video games.
The huge losses had been towards the Oilers and Calgary Flames who beat the Kraken in regulation. With the standings so shut, Seattle can’t afford to stroll away from these video games with out at the least some extent. The Kraken have a mixed file of 3-10 all-time towards their Alberta rivals and with potential playoff collection a risk towards both one, have to create a sport plan that may produce wins sooner somewhat than later.
Prospect Spotlight: Barrett Hall
Playing for the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League (USHL), Barrett Hall had an amazing January recording eight factors in eight video games. He additionally recorded 16 photographs on objective and had a plus/minus ranking of plus-4. The Kraken’s 2022 sixth-round choose is as much as 25 factors in 33 video games which ranks third on the Gamblers this season.
Hall is beginning to present a bit extra consistency because the season progresses. He had a six-game level streak through the month of January and recorded at the least one level in seven of the eight video games. A decide to St. Cloud State University for the 2024-25 season, he can have loads of alternatives to impress with six extra video games this season scheduled towards the US National Development Program.
All-Star Break Happening At Perfect Time
With the accidents piling up, the All-Star Break couldn’t have come at a greater time for the Kraken. With no gamers attending the festivities as of writing, this can be a probability for all of the gamers to get re-focused and heal up for his or her run to the playoffs. With a five-game Eastern swing to kick issues off after the break plus visits from the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins scheduled, February might be a make-or-break month for the Kraken of their quest to lock down their first-ever postseason berth.
Adam is happy to be becoming a member of The Hockey Writers as a part of the Seattle Kraken and Vancouver Canucks group. His work may also be discovered at area51sportsnet.com the place he covers the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League.
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