Facts you need to know about Anaheim (with a stick tap to The Athletic reporter and former NHL.com colleague Eric Stephens): Goaltender John Gibson is "on his way to accomplishing the undesirable feat of being the goalie who has faced the most shots on goal, made the most saves and allowed the most goals." Anaheim gives up an average of roughly four goals per game and have allowed five or more goals 29 times in 74 games.
Offensive players to watch (Thursday and years ahead): Three young forwards who can generate offense and disrupt the Kraken's playoff chase: Troy Terry, Trevor Zegras, and Mason McTavish (42 points as a rookie, second to Matty Beniers' 50).
Watch: Youtube Video
##### Two: Kraken Confidence Level
While any number of fans and media members calculate the how-to-clinch-a-playoff-spot math and/or seek out statistical models that provide probabilities of making the postseason after each night's slate of games, the Kraken players themselves are clearly confident in the squad and that they can trust all teammates. You hear/read it in player quotes (and Dave Hakstol too), but more revealing is the players talk about it when the cameras are off too. They know how it came to be that they are playing meaningful games in late March and early April. Those with playoff experiences and some with Stanley Cup rings know getting goals and defensive stops from all lines and defensive pairings is how to succeed. They're still have fun, loose before games and off days in all the right ways.
If you want to know/fret the math, here is the latest from NHL headquarters: Any combination of 13 Kraken points and Nashville opponents in the remaining games will clinch a wild-card spot for Seattle. The number for Calgary is 10. If it somehow becomes relevant, the number for Winnipeg is 12. The Kraken and Nashville both have nine games remaining (18 possible points). Calgary and Winnipeg each have seven games remaining. Bottom line: Kraken control their destiny and don't have to depend on other teams losing.
##### Three: Sprong Scope
Only Jared McCann (35) and Matty Beniers (20) have scored more goals this season than Daniel Sprong, who tallied each of the first three games during the now-completed road trip. What's impressive is Sprong is closing in on 20 goals for the first time in his NHL career despite averaging just over 11 minutes of time on ice per game. His previous season high was 14 goals for Anaheim in 2018-19.
What's equally eye-popping is Sprong has 20 assists on the season, triple his career-high. His next goal or assist will make it 40 points this season to date, doubling his career-high of 13 goals and seven assists for Washington in 2020-21. Sprong's elite shot is a major reason for the bump in goals but some of those goals and, of course, the exponential amount of assists is all about linemates. For most of the 58 games Sprong has played, Brandon Tanev has been on the other wing and either Morgan Geekie or Ryan Donato at center to form the team's fourth line.
