Analytics with Alison: Keys to Success

The Kraken surprised everyone except those inside the locker room when they defeated the defending Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche in Round One of the playoffs. And now Seattle continues to draw notice battling against a strong Dallas Stars team in Round Two, that has an early 1-1 split between the two teams.

This team is a close-knit group that has understood and believed in what they could do all season long and that has led to all the success it is having. And we wanted to take a look at how that is manifesting on the ice in terms of the Kraken's biggest strengths across the two post-season series thus far.

Let's dig in.

Playing with a lead

It was impressive to see the Kraken be just the second team since 1918 to score first in each of its first seven playoff games but that's meaningful not just for the goals scored. It's harder to control the pace and style of play when you are trailing on the scoreboard. A big factor in Seattle's ability to dictate game play (and thus outcome) this postseason has been the fact that only Dallas has spent more time leading in games than Seattle has (208:51) and no team has spent more time tied than the Kraken (208:51).

Goaltending

Philipp Grubauer has played all nine games of these playoffs and he has been strong in each. As of May 5, no other goaltender had faced more shots against than Grubauer (303) and yet he still ranks third in terms of the number of goals prevented among post-season netminders still active in the playoffs - only Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky and New Jersey's Akira Schmid rank higher (Igor Shesterkin and Ilya Sorokin played for teams already eliminated). Grubauer has five quality starts and one steal thus far.

Penalty Killing

The Kraken penalty kill ranked 21st in the regular season, but that didn't reflect the impact of a mid-season tweak in systems that saw the special teams unit run at an 85.7-percent success rate in calendar year 2023 (that would have ranked second overall). In the playoffs, the penalty kill has once again been effective. The Kraken are taking the fewest penalties of any team in the post-season, and when they are down a skater, the penalty kill is successful 90-percent of the time - second best of all teams. Colorado and Dallas' power plays came into the playoffs ranked fifth and sixth best respectively - the Kraken have given up only three power-play goals thus far - two to the Avalanche and one to the Stars.

Depth Diving

Kraken faithful already know that this team's identity is its depth meaning not only that any skater can be the offensive answer on any given night, but also that every player knows they need to be ready because they may be part of the line or pair that's looked to for a key performance. The reliance across the lineup is once again holding up. The team had 15 different goal scorers in Round One - which ties an NHL record.

Fostering the Forecheck

Another key part of how the Kraken drive success is their forecheck and it's created the fourth most even-strength scoring chances of any team in the playoffs this year (44) - only Florida, Toronto, and the Islanders have created more. Per Corey Sznajder's tracking at AllThreeZones.com, in Round One, Seattle created 119 shots off the forecheck or cycle while allowing Colorado to do so 90 times.

Moving North

And when Seattle isn't in the offensive zone, they've done a good job getting there. In even-strength play in the playoffs, the Kraken got out of their own zone and went on to execute a play 81.8-percent of the time. Only five other teams this post-season have been more effective (Minnesota, Colorado, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Carolina). And the Kraken have the eighth highest rate of success entering the zone and making a play (23.3%) - that's higher than both the Avalanche and the Stars.

Controlling Possession

And if the Kraken don't have the puck? They're going to go get it. In terms of winning puck battles, Kraken ranks top two in the playoffs in recovering loose pucks in both the offensive and defensive zones (only Florida has more). Seattle also knows what to do next. No team scored more goals within five seconds of a turnover in the regular season than the Kraken and in the post-season they are ranked fourth. And don't worry, Seattle isn't easy to take the puck away from either. They have the third-fewest giveaways per 60 minutes of play and thus far opponents haven't been able to capitalize even if they do get the puck. Colorado ranked tenth in goals off turnovers while Dallas currently ranks 13th.

Good Gourde

If you didn't already understand why Yanni Gourde was a key piece of two Championships for the Tampa Bay Lightning, you're seeing it now. Often taking on some of the toughest matchups, his ice time has increased by over three minutes per game. He is part of a line with Eeli Tolvanen and Oliver Bjorkstrand that currently ranks first in number of post-season goals scored (7), and both of his goals this playoffs have been game-winners.