Analytics with Alison Film Study: Lessons Learned

Monday's
6-1 Kraken win
over the Kings was a statement in and of itself, but it was even more notable coming on the heels of a 4-2 loss to the same team two days prior. It would be easy to presume the same two teams might mean a similar outcome. But Seattle looked like they had figured things out against Los Angeles to an impressive degree in Monday's victory.

"I liked our entire game to be honest with you," Dave Hakstol said post-game. "We really liked our team game tonight from faceoff to finish."
But what did the Kraken apply within their systems to come out with such a convincing victory?
Let's go to the tape and dig in.
There were a few strategies to be celebrated in how the Kraken's game came together in Los Angeles. And many of them were displayed on Seattle's third goal of the game that came off Victor Rask's stick.
Let's look at how that goal came together.

Quick Transitions

After an impressive save by Chris Driedger on Quinton Byfield, Karson Kuhlman dug the puck out from below the goal line, living the forecheck mentality that is a key piece of the Kraken's identity. But it's what came next that was key.
Kuhlman has the puck on his stick and his first instinct is to look for the pass. He sees a streaking Rask but Rask is looking up ice and is protected by a Kings' skater. On the other side of the ice, however, is an un-defended Yanni Gourde. Relying on a quick up pass off the boards (Something Jordan Eberle talked about in his post-game comments), Kuhlman gets the puck moving north and onto Gourde's stick faster than he could have had he carried the puck out himself.

Here's how that came together at game speed.

As Gourde said after the game, "We didn't let them set up in their structure as much tonight. Last game I felt like they were in their structure and where they wanted us (to be), and tonight, we went north. We went up ice. It helped us. We were on the same page, and we looked much faster by doing that."
About challenging that structure…

Coming Through the Neutral Zone with Speed

Establishing speed was a big part of the puzzle, but maintaining it and moving through the neutral zone quickly meant that Seattle had a better chance of catching Los Angeles either before they had a chance to set up the 1-3-1, or, even if they had, the Kraken could try to break it open and get through it.
On Rask's goal, the speed Seattle had used to get out of their own end of the ice meant the Kings weren't even close to being in formation, let alone having the right number of bodies in front of the play.

Now it was the Kraken who could establish their own line of attack with Rask, Gourde and Kuhlman all timed to enter the zone with possession together as a unit.
Seattle was effective at this all night, entering the zone with control 62.2 percent of the time as compared to 51.5 percent of the time in Saturday's contest.

Driving to the Net Down the Middle of the Ice

Once in the zone, the next key was pushing for quality chances by attacking down the center lane and crashing the net.
Gourde enters with control and because he's in the middle of the ice, he has options. He's not being limited by being too close to one side of the ice or having any angles shut off. It helps that each of his linemates is with him in stride, sticks down, blades open ready to receive a pass.
It also helps the Kraken that Gourde has been the offensive contributor he is this season. Both Kings defenders (who are already out-manned, mind you - a risk of the 1-3-1) focus on the puck carrier, leaving the skaters on their flanks unchallenged.

"We did a much better job (coming with a) middle lane drive on the rush… me and Kuhly," Gourde said. "That opens up a bit of room for (Rask) and he picks a corner.
"(And) You have to be determined to go (net front) and create chances," Gourde said. "Maybe it's not going to be for you, it might be for your linemates."
And that's just what happened. Gourde ultimately decides to give the puck to Rask who is to his left and because the still shorthanded Kings' skaters collapse with the crashing Gourde and Kuhlman. Rask has the stick on his puck and all the time and space in the world.

And he shows tremendous patience in waiting for a shooting lane to open.

And when he sees his chance, he capitalizes.

Let's take a look at all the pieces put together at game speed.

That's the good stuff.
All four Kraken lines were able to bring these tools into their play. Eberle's goal came off a defensive challenge by Jamie Oleksiak and then an attack off the rush by Eberle. Jared McCann's score came off another turnover and odd-man rush chance that, like Rask's score, took advantage of the short-manned Kings in the defensive zone. And all 60 minutes were backed by a solid Chris Driedger in net.
"There is a lot to display that worked that we talked about in the pre-scout (meeting)," Gourde said. "That's what we call a team win - everybody contributed."