Game #9: Seattle Kraken (2-5-2) at Tampa Bay Lightning (4-2-2)
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Location: Amalie Arena
Broadcast/Streaming: BSSUN, ESPN+, ROOT-NW
Opponent’s Site: Davy Jones’ Locker Room
Preview
Is it me or does it seem like it’s been a week-and-a-half since the Lightning played? For the second time this month, the Bolts had a three-day break between games, and after an off-day on Friday, they had back-to-back practices over the weekend. There were some welcome sites on the ice:
Backed by consecutive shutouts by Jonas Johansson, the defensive stats for the Lightning are starting to trend in the right direction while they are maintaining their offensive prowess. They are eighth in the league in goals for at 3.63 and 18th in goals against at 3.00. That GA number isn’t pretty, but it’s a lot better than where they were a week ago.
Their 5v5 shots against number is still a little high at 33.8/60 but more and more of those shots are coming from less dangerous areas. Scoring chances against has dropped to 28.07/60, still in the bottom third of the league, but a lot fewer than we saw after the first few games. The defense is getting better.
Tonight’s game will wrap up their five-game homestand where they have gone 3-0-1 so far. For Seattle, they are ending a four-game road trip in which they have gone 1-2, with a win over Detroit and a pair of 3-2 losses to Carolina and Florida. Offense has been a little lacking for the Kraken so far this season as they have been scoring just over two goals per game (2.22) through their first nine games. They’ve struggled to generate high-danger chances at even strength with just 9.2/60.
Defenseman Vince Dunn is leading the way with 7 points (1 goal, 6 assists) while Jaden Schwartz and Jared McGann are tied for the team lead in goals with 4 a piece. Old friends Yanni Gourder and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare each have one goal on the season so far. Of course, with the Lightning’s trend of allowing goals to former players, chances are one of them will likely double their season total tonight (if JJ decides to give up a goal).
Expect a rather tightly played game tonight that may go down to the third period. If that happens, the numbers favor the Lightning who have scored 9 goals and allowed 9 goals in the final frame while the Kraken have only scored 4 times in their 9 games while allowing 14.
Stats Match-up
| Game #9 | Tampa Bay Lightning | Seattle Kraken |
| Overall Record | 4-2-2 | 2-5-2 |
| Home Record | 4-0-1 | 1-2-0 |
| Road Record | 0-2-1 | 1-3-2 |
| Goals For | 29 | 20 |
| Goals Against | 24 | 31 |
| xGF | 25.11 | 25.83 |
| xGA | 26.61 | 28.79 |
| Power Play | 32.1% | 20% |
| Penalty Kill | 94.7% | 79.2% |
Lines
Tampa Bay Lightning Projected Lines
Forwards
Alex Barré-Boulet – Brayden Point – Nikita Kucherov
Steven Stamkos – Nick Paul – Brandon Hagel
Tanner Jeannot – Anthony Cirelli – Waltteri Merelä
Conor Sheary – Luke Glendening – Michael Eyssimont
Defenders
Victor Hedman – Erik Cernak
Mikhail Sergachev – Nick Perbix
Calvin de Haan – Darren Raddysh
Goalies
Jonas Johansson
Matt Tomkins
Lines based on Sunday’s practice.
Seattle Kraken Projected Lines
Forwards
Tye Kartye – Matty Berniers – Jordan Eberle
Jaden Schwartz – Alexander Wennberg – Olivier Bjorkstrand
Jared McCann – Yanni Gourde – Eeli Tolvanen
Devin Shore – Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – Kailer Yamamoto
Defenders
Vince Dunn – Adam Larsson
Jamie Oleksiak – Will Borgen
Brian Dumoulin – Justin Schultz
Goalies
Phillip Grubauer
Joey Daccord
Lines from their last game played.
Question of the Night
Will the Lightning be rusty or rested tonight?
