The Seattle Kraken return from their holiday break with a game tonight at Scotiabank Saddledome against the Calgary Flames.

The previous two games in the season series were played in Seattle. Calgary won both, 6-3 on Nov. 4 and 4-3 in overtime on Nov. 20. The division rivals' final regular-season meeting will be back in Alberta on Mar. 4.

The Flames will be facing a Kraken team with more pep in its step than last month, with Seattle riding a six game unbeaten streak (4-0-2).

Seattle has persevered despite long term injuries to key regulars, including goalie Philipp Grubauer and forwards Jaden Schwartz, Andre Burakovsky, and Pierre-Edouard Bellmare.

Overcoming those absences was among the topics Kraken coach Dave Hakstol addressed on NHL.com's At The Rink podcast.

Assessment of the season so far?

"Nothing has come easy for us. Our group has really had to look within themselves and dig deep. Their attitude could have gone the wrong way. That hasn't happened. That's a real credit to the group.

"We don't have a guy that wears the 'C' for us. But we have really good veterans. Some young guys are part of that leadership."

Seattle has lost nine games in OT/shootout, tied for most in the NHL.

"We're going to be involved in a lot of close games, so we have to be able to alter the outcome of some of these. We're struggling to score as much as we want.

"If you even take five of those nine, that's a big difference in the standings. You can't go back and get those points. We have to make sure we affect the points coming up."

What can the team do to produce more goals?

"You look at the shooting percentages and the way we started off this year compared to where we were last year. Whether or not it's realistic to replicate where we were last year, that's a different argument. 

"The reality is, we haven't scored as much at the top of our lineup, and we haven't had the depth scoring.

"Let's do a little bit extra on the defensive side, shut it down a little bit more. Let's generate offense by playing well defensively."

How do you compensate for injuries, especially to the forward corps?

"We're going to have to adapt and overcome, because we do need that depth scoring. Everybody has to do their part, everybody's going to get an opportunity to do that.

"All of a sudden, we've been generating scoring. Our fourth line is providing significant offense on a nightly basis. 

"And all of a sudden, you start to see our team loosen up, the results come."

Doesn't that have to be the formula, without a superstar to fall back on?

"If you have one or two or three guys at the top of your lineup, you can ride those guys. They can be the ones to come through. 

"Don't get me wrong. We have guys that we count on. But we also rely on 'a different guy each night.' We found that a little bit recently."