Seattle Coach Hakstol Expects "Foward Thinking" Tonight Vs. Vegas
After Monday's 6-2 drubbing by the Buffalo Sabres (above photo) to conclude an 0-4-1 homestand, Seattle Kraken coach Dave Hakstol candidly broke out the "F" word.
"Frustration."
"That's the first time that I've seen that seep into our game," Hakstol said after practice. "Our team game didn't look very good. So the day off (Tuesday) was good for everybody. Now it's up to every individual to make sure we're ready to go tonight."
Tonight being a Thursday road game in Las Vegas, followed Friday by a back-to-back at the Arizona Coyotes.
"The entire week stings a little bit," Hakstol admitted about the homestand. One of the biggest jolts was administered by the Golden Knights on Mar. 12, tying the game in the final seconds and sending Seattle to a 5-4 overtime defeat.
The cure? "Forward thinking, forward looking. We want to make sure we come out with a positive effort. There is a real specific formula to our team, with everybody contributing. Everybody doing their job and feeling good about doing their part."
Hakstol Says Dunn Not Done For Season
Defenseman Vince Dunn won't play against Vegas, missing his seventh consecutive game. We detailed his inclusion in the season-long list of Kraken injuries here.
Calgary's Martin Pospisil was suspended three games for smashing Dunn's head into the glass in Seattle's 4-2 victory over the Flames Mar. 4.
Coach Hakstol says Dunn didn't make the road trip, which means he also won't be in the lineup Friday in Arizona. "We lose a lot of offense. Dunner gives us the ability to get us out of the (defensive) zone."
Hakstol said the team isn't considering letting Dunn sit out of the rest of the season. "There's still a focus on having him work through his rehab and rejoin the team."
Without Dunn, and maybe also minus Jamie Oleksiak, stung by a shot in the Sabres game, Seattle made a callup from AHL Coachella Valley.
Regardless of whether Oleksiak or Fleury draws into the lineup, Hakstol will contend with extensive juggling of defensive combos. "The reality is, all six guys mix and play a little bit of time with each other."