The Seattle Kraken continue their East Coast road trip tonight, facing the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh. For those preferring to listen, the game will be available on 105.9 'The X' and the Penguins app.
This matchup marks the first game of a back-to-back for the Kraken. In their most recent game, the Kraken rallied in the third period to secure a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. The Penguins, on the other hand, are looking to rebound after a disappointing 5-0 shutout loss against the Minnesota Wild on Friday night. The defeat against Minnesota was arguably their worst performance of the season, where they struggled with passing, shooting, defending, skating, and goaltending. Prior to that, the Penguins had a strong start to their three-game homestand, shutting out the Nashville Predators 4-0 on November 16.
Several storylines surround the Kraken heading into tonight's game. Oscar Fisker Molgaard made his NHL debut in the game against the Blackhawks, and his parents traveled from Copenhagen to witness the event. Molgaard contributed an assist on Tye Kartye's goal, making his debut memorable. He is likely to center the fourth line again after a successful game against Chicago. Brandon Montour is another player to watch, as he broke a six-game point drought with two assists against the Blackhawks.
Statistically, Jaden Schwartz leads the Kraken with 8 goals and 15 points in 20 games. Jordan Eberle has also been a key contributor with 8 goals and 14 points in 20 games. Goaltender Joey Daccord was recently activated off injured reserve and has started the Kraken's previous two games.
The Penguins will need to rely on their offensive capabilities and strong power play to overcome the Kraken. Evgeni Malkin leads the team with 23 points in 20 games, while Sidney Crosby has 21 points. The Penguins boast the league's highest power-play percentage at 32.6%. However, their penalty kill will be crucial against the Kraken. Goaltending for the Penguins is uncertain after Arturs Silovs was pulled early in the game against the Wild. Sergei Murashov replaced him and allowed only one goal.
The Penguins are currently on a three-game losing skid against the Kraken. Despite their recent struggles, they hold an 11-5-2 record in their last 18 games against Western Conference opponents.
According to predictions, the Kraken are slight underdogs with a 49.5% implied chance of victory. Computer-calculated predictions favor the Kraken with a 3-1 win.
