Game 2 Essentials | Kraken at Stars (SEA leads series 1-0) | 6:30 p.m.

One: Defensive Focus
In Game 1 versus Dallas, the Kraken went a perfect 2-for-2 on the penalty kill and allowed only one Stars player to score. But that player, Joe Pavelski, scored four times and Dallas had two forward lines that gained an offensive advantage when on the ice - and neither of them was the line Pavelski was on. And a few players commented on how period three felt a bit like the Kraken were on their heels before they regrouped in overtime.
When Dave Hakstol was asked if that measured up for a strong defensive performance he astutely said, "you can't go halfway." The head coach said there are things he wants to see his team clean up in terms of preventing Dallas' attack. And that will be critical against a Dallas team that weathered a strong Seattle start to come back from a two-goal deficit and tie the game at 4-4 before forcing play to go past regulation, because pushing even more offensively is what the Kraken's opponent plans to do.

Stars' head coach Pete DeBoer said Wednesday that after a bit of an adjustment period when Dallas had to get used to the speed of Seattle's attack, when his team played well, they "dominated." And that if his group plays the right way, they can win games in this series.
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##### Two: Be in the Moment
While some in the hockey world have been surprised by what the Kraken are doing in the post-season, the people inside the locker room are not. And they are enjoying every moment of it and not overthinking. Morgan Geekie told assembled media on Wednesday that the team is "playing for free" - not trying to put too much weight on anything and staying true to the identity that has gotten them to this point.
"These are the minutes guys want to play for and we have a lot of guys in the room who will rise to the occasion," Geekie said.
Another key part of being in the moment has been persevering through a post-season schedule that has had the Kraken playing a game every other day (along with travel) for the past two weeks. Many players have commented on their appreciation of the consistency of that rhythm in their schedule, but it can take a toll. So, Hakstol has been intentional about providing as much rest - physical and mental - for his team as possible.
"We let (the team) rest on off days," Hakstol said. "(There's) no team meeting. I want guys to rest, recuperate, and get ready for (the next game). That routine can change, but most of those meetings happen on game day. They are short, succinct, to the point, and we get ready for the game that night."
##### Three: Net Front Traffic
The Kraken were able to score four goals in the first period on Jake Oettinger. That was uncharacteristic for a player who had been one of the best goaltenders in Round 1. But even as Seattle upped their offensive output in periods 2 and 3, DeBoer said he saw his netminder return to his level of play and the Kraken weren't able to break through again until over 12 minutes into overtime. That goal came off a bunch of chaos in front of the net with bodies crashing around, rebounds bouncing, and an odd-angle shot off the stick of a spinning Yanni Gourde. Oettinger said post-game that he didn't see the puck at all on what would be the game-winning goal. More traffic like that will be key when it comes to beating a top-tier NHL goalie and putting pucks in the net.