A tale of two teams: Kraken at Lightning preview

Game Seventy-One : Seattle Kraken (31-29-10) at Tampa Bay Lightning (44-21-5)

Time: 7:00 PM EST

Location: Benchmark International Arena, Where the Lightning are 0-1 with Raw Charge in the building this season

TV/Stream/Radio: The Spot, KONG, ESPN+, 102.5 FM, Lightning App

Odds: Lightning -290

Know the Opponents: Davy Jones Locker Room

It wasn’t that long ago that these two teams faced off in Seattle. A somewhat struggling Lightning team kicked off a successful road trip with a 6-2 win over the Kraken. That started a five-game points streak for the Bolts where they’ve racked up 26 goals along the way. For Seattle, well, it’s been a different story.

Following a shootout loss to Florida on Tuesday, they’ve now lost four in a row, collecting just the lone Bettman Point against the Panthers. The offense is sputtering as they’ve scored just nine goals in those four games. With the loss they have slipped out of a playoff spot and are trailing Nashville by five point for the second Wild Card spot.

Let’s look at some numbers!

Yup. Definitely a tale of two teams heading in opposite directions. So, the Lightning can just throw their sticks on the ice and pick up another two points, right? Oh, no, that’s so very wrong. Seattle is going to be a desperate team as they cling to their playoff dreams. They are going to throw everything they have against the Lightning tonight, and the Bolts will have to be buttoned up tight if they want to pick up another win and keep the pressure on Buffalo (who lost in overtime on Wednesday).

During this recent points streak, the Lightning have been better at limiting the chances against them, especially those of a high-danger variety. During this stretch of play, they are allowing just 7.20 against. When the Bolts were struggling at the beginning of the month, they were allowing 14.16 HDCA/60. It’s not advanced trigonometry to state that cutting down on the number of Grade A chances an opponent gets is the best way to keep the puck out of your own net, and that’s what the Lightning have been doing for the most part of late.

They haven’t been perfect, and there have been some rocky moments over the streak, but they are finding ways to pick up points, and there game is improving from period to period. Literally. Over the last five games their goal differentials are:

First Period: 4-5

Second Period: 11-5

Third Period: 11-2

Get the lead. Protect the lead. Extend the lead.

The formula for winning tonight will be the same as it was just over a week ago. Clean breakouts and strong play along the bluelines. They did a really good job of harassing the Seattle puck-carriers coming out of the zone in the 6-2 win. If they can keep that pressure up on Seattle’s breakouts, it will force turnovers in the neutral zone and allow them to counter and keep the Kraken on their heels.

They also did a good job of standing up at their own blueline and forcing Seattle to dump the puck into the zone. The Bolts often get in trouble when they concede entries too often and too easily. They don’t want to be backpedaling as the Kraken forwards drive into the zone. Hold the line and then retrieve the pucks cleanly. That’s a recipe for success and another two points.

Potential Lines

Tampa Bay Lightning

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Seattle Kraken

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