Get To Know The Winter Classic Against The Kraken

Ironically, the Kraken have also made the postseason early in their franchise history. It took Seattle its second season to make the playoffs, where Vegas did it in their first. Here, they beat a depleted Colorado Avalanche team in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, 4-3. Then, they took the Dallas Stars to Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals before bowing out.

Currently, the Kraken stand at 9-14-7 with 25 points, far less impressive than last season’s run. Their leading scorer is defenseman Vince Dunn with 23 points. He also leads the team in assists with 19, so you can think of him as a poor man’s Erik Karlsson. The leading goal scorer is Jared McCann with 13 goals (he’s also tied for the team lead in power play goals with Jaden Schwartz, netting five). Their coach is Dave Hakstol, formerly of North Dakota fame.

Seattle’s a team that prides itself on scoring depth, which starts at the center position. One player to watch for is Matty Beniers, who was the second overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. Currently, the Kraken don’t have a captain. But you can bet the franchise is banking on him to eventually take that role.

Seattle’s also a team that’s one of the lightest in the NHL, coming in at a lean average of 195.2 lbs (third-lightest). Their goal is to outspeed you down the ice, which is Beniers’s strong suit. He’s also an excellent defender who can cause chaos on the forecheck and the backcheck.

Beating the Kraken starts with getting physical with them and establishing your game plan early. Luckily, Vegas is this team, with their forecheck being a major strength. Hitting Seattle early and often and sticking with your strategy goes a long way in winning the Winter Classic.

Vegas also has the scoring depth to match the Emerald City’s hockey team. With scoring on all four lines, the Knights can take advantage of numerous scoring chances. This is especially true with the Kraken’s defense not being the best, along with their goaltending.