3 Game Essentials | Kraken vs. Minnesota | Oct. 28

One:

Hakstol attributed the success to "playing fast in transition" - getting the puck out of the defensive end and moving up ice in the neutral zone with quickness and opportunistic passing. One element to watch Thursday is if the Kraken defensemen (Hakstol praised Haydn Fleury in particular) can get the puck up ice and out of the D-zone with either 15- to 20-foot "bumps" to the forwards or carrying the puck with surety and patience to make the best pass in transition.

Two:

Minnesota arrives with COVID questions looming on the roster (three assistant coaches are in COVID protocol and news reports speculate some players might miss Thursday's game and/or be in protocol for the requisite 10 days if they test positive. But the Wild also come to town with lofty offensive metrics as calculated by SportLogiq (which provides the raw data for colleague
Alison Lukan's Post-Game Instant Analysis chart
we post on the Kraken app and web).
The numbers: Minnesota is No. 1 in the NHL in shots on goal and No. 2 for scoring chances off the offensive rush (moving through the neutral zone and into the O-zone), scoring chances off rebounds and scoring chances off their forechecking (winning the puck back in the opponent's defensive zone). While the number of shots is less important if Kraken D-men keep Wild forwards to the "outside," fans can monitor whether Minnesota is getting shots on net from near the net and especially in front of the net on rebounds.

Three:

The five-goal breakout game featured center Yanni Gourde rounding into his 200-foot game that will make him a fixture - and fan favorite - for seasons to come here in the PNW. Enjoy watching him take over shifts and game flow.