Game in Full

The preseason schedule is complete with a 4-2 record for the Kraken, but there are many roster spots, line combos and defensive pairings still to be determined. Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol said early Tuesday this game would factor into making those decisions. Let's dig into the night's data and discussion points.

Mission accomplished here in Vancouver. Philipp Grubauer helped steady the group with 15 first-period saves, many momentum changers. He made a point-blank save on Vancouver up-and-comer forward Vasily Podkolzin to keep it scoreless after 20 minutes.
Hakstol said post-game in some ways, "it was tough to find a flow, I think there were more than 20 minutes of power play or penalty kill." He nonetheless was pleased with the Kraken skaters limiting Vancouver's "good chances to six or seven" during 5-on-5 play.
Grubauer finished with 38 saves on the night.

Powering Up Early

The first period featured six minutes of power play for the Kraken. Mark Giordano and Vince Dunn took turns at the quarterback role, both putting quality shots on goal. The first unit managed extended possession time in the offensive zone but no goals.
Morgan Geekie clanged the post on a quality scoring chance (Vancouver hit one post too early in the game). The Kraken players are clearly communicating and showing patience. Thatcher Demko made several legitimate NHL saves to keep it scoreless after what was practically six consecutive minutes of man-advantage for Seattle.
The Kraken power play broke through four minutes into the second period on a Vince Dunn set up by a give-and-go return pass from Calle Jarnkrok. Nice work facilitated by a puck-on-blade cross-slot pass from Morgan Geekie, who continues to impress anyone who watches him live or video review. He's played himself into a job without question.
Less than three minutes later, Dunn scored again. This time, the young D-man aggressively moved up into the offensive zone, then lit the goal light on sweet pass from Jared McCann and secondary assist from Jaden Schwartz.
"Vince is really gaining in his skating and his legs," said Hakstol. "He is seeing the ice so well for the blue line. He's also getting back and breaking us out of the defensive zone."

Forward Progress

With Marcus Johansson not dressing, his preseason team-lead 11 shots on goals was in peril since both Ryan Donato and Morgan Geekie suited up with 10 apiece with Jordan Eberle sitting at 9. Eberle had two SOG in the first period while Geekie notched one himself.
Donato scored the game's third goal on his 13th shot on goal of the preseason (two earlier chances in the middle period were high-danger quality). The score started with another laser-accurate pass from Geekie to Jarnkrok, who blazed a shot on VAN goalie Thatcher Demko. The young No. 1 goalie made a fine save, but left the rebound for Donato's hang-in-there lift over Demko's leg pad.
"That rebound goal is really big for your forwards," said Dunn. "It's the type of goal we need."
In his post-game remarks, Hakstol praised Ryan Donato's net effort disrupting goalie Thatcher Demko on Dunn's first goal Tuesday. He further complimented the winger's "poise and presence" to settle the rebound before lifting it past Demko to make it 3-0.
Hakstol and his coaches kept together the presumed top line of Jared McCann between Jaden Schwartz and Eberle. Similarly, the "role" line of Brandon Tanev-Riley Sheahan-Nathan Bastian have been playing together a good portion of camp and again Tuesday. For what it's worth, Tanev and Sheahan both prefer to go through warmups with a helmet (hey, we bring all the details here for Kraken fans).

Shooting Stars

The last three Kraken players to leave the ice after warmups Tuesday: Vince Dunn taking repetitive shots from the right point (lots of pinpoint top-of-net shots); he's one of two lefties playing right D against Vancouver (Haydn Fleury is the other). The shots were basically practice for how he scored the game's first goal.
Ryan Donato was on the warmup ice later than most teammates to practice from high-danger spots in front of the net while Jared McCann stayed put, shooting over and over from the left faceoff circle (where he figures to get some feeds on the power play tonight and in future regular-season games).
Donato scored and McCann inadvertently drilled Demko with a high, hard wrist shot from his preferred faceoff circle location. Demko made the stop with his mask, which then fell off to stop play.

Next Stop: Vegas

The third period was another solid 20 minutes of Seattle puck possession in the offensive zone, no one backing down from physical play and Grubauer finishing off the night with 37 saves and lots of oh's and aah's from the Vancouver crowd. Overheard fan earlier in the third period: "We have 31 shots and no goals. Oh, man."
The Kraken plan to practice Wednesday through Friday, then enjoy an off day Saturday before final preparations for the home opener. You can say it's all Hakstol-systems go for next Tuesday's historic season opener in Vegas.