The Seattle Kraken head back to California for the first of back-to-back meetings with the San Jose Sharks.
The Seattle Kraken head back to California for the first of back-to-back meetings with the San Jose Sharks.
The Kraken and the Sharks are coming off of Wednesday night losses and are both looking to get back in the win column with an afternoon win. The Kraken were defeated by the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 in what was a physical affair that boiled over from their previous matchup just two days before. The Sharks dominated the Ottawa Senators but couldn't pull out the win, losing 4-3 despite outshooting the Senators 39-11.
Sharks rookie sensation Macklin Celebrini has been on fire since returning from his injury. The 18-year-old is up to seven goals and 11 points in his first 13 games.
The Kraken's young centre is also playing better as of late after he was scratched for three consecutive games. Shane Wright has recorded a goal and two assists, both primary markers, in two games since his return to the lineup. The 20-year-old has looked more assertive and playing more freely and confidently.
The Kraken are 11-11-1 and are on the outside looking in, in terms of the playoffs. They trail the Vancouver Canucks by four points but the Canucks have two games in hand on the Kraken. Games against rebuilding teams filled with young, inexperienced players are games the Kraken must win if they want to be in the playoffs.
Kraken projected lines:
McCann-Beniers-Burakovsky
Schwartz-Stephenson-Winterton
Tolvanen-Wright-Bjorkstrand
Katrye-Gourde-Tanev
Oleksiak-Montour
Evans-Larsson
Mahura-Borgen
Daccord
Grubauer
Sharks projected lineup:
Eklund-Celebrini-Zetterlund
Kunin-Wennberg-Toffoli
Kostin-Granlund-Smith
Dellandrea-Strum-Cardwell
Walman-Ceci
Ferraro-Liljegren
Thrun-Rutta
Vanecek
Blackwood
Puck drop is at 12:30 P.M. PST at Sap Center.
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