One: Goaltending Questions
Kraken goalie Chris Driedger made some impressive saves late second period in Thursday’s overtime and added another big stop early third period to keep the score 3-0. That, of course, allowed the Kraken to rally to tie the game and force OT.
When provided the opportunity to talk about Driedger making those saves, coach Dave Hakstol chose to comment on the team’s offensive push and especially credited Jared McCann‘s snipe of a shot to break Ottawa goalie Anton Forsberg’s shutout attempt.
After Tuesday’s Kraken rally from a 3-1 deficit was wiped out with two Toronto goals in 40 seconds mid-third period when Hakstol thought the Maple Leafs showed “tired legs” from back-to-back games, Hakstol wasn’t much in the mood to look for positives.
He was clearly disappointed his squad didn’t find a way to keep Toronto off the scoreboard. When asked about Philipp Grubauer‘s night in goal and the challenge of facing ultra-hot scorers (Auston Mathews and Mitch Marner), Hakstol said, “same as the hockey team.”
Two: Stuck on Stick Penalties
The Kraken were whistled for seven penalties in Tuesday’s 6-4 loss to Toronto and three more in Ottawa Thursday. Half of the Maple Leafs’ scores were on the power play. In Ottawa, Josh Norris’ game-winner in overtime was scored with captain Mark Giordano in the penalty box and the Senators adding a fourth attacker, creating a 4-on-3 power play.
Of those 10 two-minute minors in the last two games, seven of the offenders were called for stick penalties, four for tripping (including Giordano in Ottawa), two for cross-checking and one for slashing. Hockey’s stick penalties are slashing, spearing, hooking, holding, tripping, cross-checking and high-sticking. Before Thursday’s game, Hakstol said he doesn’t “have any issue with our discipline” over a season-long evaluation of penalties called on the Kraken.
“If there are [penalties] we want to make sure we cut it’s the stick penalties when you are reaching, especially when you are a long ways from your own net. It’s not necessarily like we are blowing guys up with big physical plays that are turning into penalties.
“It’s more the [stick penalties] coming back to haunt you if you stop moving your feet and reach in for a second…especially if you take multiple penalties in that way.”
Three: Know the Foe: Montreal Canadiens (15-35-7, 8th in Atlantic Division)
The Original Six franchise won the Eastern Conference last season, advancing to the Stanley Cup Final (losing to Tampa Bay in five games). Coach Dominique Ducharme, though missing some time due to COVID-19 protocol, was considered the French-speaking answer for this team and its, ahem, passionate fan base.
Not so fast. Ducharme was fired a month ago (Feb. 9) and Hall of Fame player Martin St. Louis was named interim head coach (last slotted as a youth hockey coach in Connecticut but with a storied career as a player, winner and mentor of any number of NHLers who became stars). The concept was St. Louis could help a new front office (former GM Marc Bergevin was fired, too) sort out which players should be part of the team’s core going forward.
While that process is in place – and Kraken fans know the drill – St. Louis has led the Canadiens to a 7-5-1 record, including a five-game road trip that featured wins over Calgary and Edmonton.
For fans thinking NHL Draft, Montreal has 37 standings points in 57 games. The Kraken have 40 standings points in 60 games while Arizona has 40 points in 57 games.