The Seattle Kraken are set to face the Montreal Canadiens tonight at 10:30 PM EST at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. This will be the second and final meeting between these two teams this season, with the Kraken winning the first matchup 8-2. Seattle will aim to bounce back here on home ice, while Montreal looks to hold momentum after a big 4-2 win in Vancouver last night.

 

Recent Performance

The Seattle Kraken (27-34-4) are coming off a 4-2 loss against the Capitals March 9th and travel back home to meet Montreal on a back to back. Their latest 4-1 victory over the Flyers showcased their ability to control play and capitalize on key scoring opportunities. The Kraken have been struggling in March, going just 2-3 to start the month, they continue to push for points but are too far out to make the playoffs this year.

The Montreal Canadiens (31-29-4) were struggling to find consistency on this western road trip, having lost 2 games prior to the win last night in Vancouver. This team is still having defensive lapses and sometimes show an inability to contain top scorers but they are finding offence again and it’s helping them. As they head south of the border to Seattle tonight, Montreal will need to tighten up defensively and get a strong performance from their top line and goaltending to remain competitive.

 

Team Records and Trends

Seattle Kraken

Overall Record: 27-34-4
Home Record: 14-15-4
Power Play: 18.0% (26th in the NHL)
Penalty Kill: 77.1% (20th in the NHL)
Last 10 Games: 4-6-0

 

Montreal Canadiens

Overall Record: 31-29-4
Road Record: 15-15-2
Power Play: 21.4% (17th in the NHL)
Penalty Kill: 82.0% (7th in the NHL)
Last 10 Games: 6-3-1

 

Key Players to Watch

Seattle Kraken

Jared McCann – Leading the Kraken with 52 points, McCann has been an offensive force with 26 goals and 26 assists. His speed and finishing ability make him a key weapon for Seattle’s attack.

 

Oliver Bjorkstrand – A versatile forward with 18 goals and 35 assists this season, Bjorkstrand has been a key playmaker for the Kraken, contributing consistently at even strength and on the power play.

 

Montreal Canadiens

Nick Suzuki – The Canadiens captain and leading scorer with 67 points (20 goals, 47 assists), Suzuki will be crucial to Montreal’s offensive efforts tonight, especially on the power play. He had a goal and an assist last night.

 

Cole Caufield – The talented sniper has 32 goals and 26 assists this season. His ability to find space and unleash his lethal shot makes him a constant scoring threat. He also had a goal and an assist last night.

 

Injury Report

Seattle Kraken

No significant injuries

 

Montreal Canadiens

Patrik Laine – Day-to-day. Game time decision tonight.
Kirby Dach – Out for the season with a knee injury.
Kaiden Guhle – Out 

 

Goaltending Matchup

Seattle Kraken

Joey Daccord – Projected starter, Daccord holds a 21-18-3 in 44 games with a goals against average of 2.65 and a save percentage of .910 this season. His solid play has been key to Seattle’s success, making him a reliable presence in net.

 

Montreal Canadiens

Jakub Dobes – Confirmed to start, Dobes is 6-3-1 in 11 games with a goals against average of 2.49 and a save percentage of .913 for the Canadiens this season. Despite his struggles, he remains the Canadiens’ best option in goal on a back to back and will need to be sharp to give his team a chance.

 

Game Outlook

Both teams enter this matchup with similar trajectories, as Seattle looks to continue to grow as a team for next season while Montreal plays for pride. Special teams will play a significant role, as both teams have struggled on the power play and penalty kill. The Kraken’s recent form and goaltending edge give them the upper hand, but the Canadiens are coming off a good game last night and that could keep things interesting. Expect a fast-paced game where Seattle looks to dictate the tempo with the upper hand in rest and Montreal tries to capitalize on counterattacks.

 

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