Time: 7:30 p.m. PT | Watch: ROOT SPORTS | Listen: 93.3 KJR
One: Shooting on Target
Earlier this season, Dave Hakstol told a post-game media scrum that his players were missing the net a little too much with wide or high shots. The result were missed opportunities to flat-out beat the goalie or not providing teammates with a chance to deflect the arriving puck past a goalie and/or score on a rebound shot.
Andre Burakovsky, who scored twice in Vegas and notched another goal last Wednesday in a home divisional victory against San Jose, counted as one Kraken skater shooting wide at times. Lately, Burakovsky is shooting more accurately (his Vegas goals both from the faceoff circle) while still blending in the notable season-long playmaking that has produced 14 assists to go along with seven goals. He stands as the Kraken’s leading scorer with a point-per-game average in 21 games and he has fired 15 shots on goal during the five-game win streak with three goals to show for it.
“[Burakovsky] is getting things right about now,” said Hakstol. “He still has a nice mix of distribution [to teammates, including a beauty of an assist to linemate Alex Wennberg Sunday night], but when you’re feeling good and the pucks are going in, keep shooting too.”
Two: Blazing Beniers
Rookie Matty Beniers has scored two goals and added seven assists for nine points in his last four games. The always-on NHL Stats crew says it’s the first time a rookie has notched such numbers since Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson collected three goals and seven assists over four games in December 2018. If Beniers manages a point (goal or assist) Tuesday here in Los Angeles, it will be his third five-game point streak in 32 NHL games played.
Beniers is a must-watch player for all fans. Beyond his scoring, he wins key faceoffs and his fair share of puck battles, he is one of the team’s most relentless forecheckers, he gets backs on defense with speed when there is a Kraken turnover, he protects the puck against bigger defenders when driving to the net and he makes purposeful rink-long rushes, such as when a power play is threatened by opponents’ shorthanded shot attempts.
Three: Division and Conquer?
Tuesday marks the fifth straight divisional foe for the Kraken. They have won the first four, starting with 3-2 overtime thriller against the Kings back in Seattle. Martin Jones has earned a pair of victories against the NHL franchise that originally signed him. Check back on the Kraken app, website, and social channels Tuesday mid-day to find out whether the SEA coaching staff chooses to tap Jones again (he made at least three game-saving stops after Anaheim tied it at 4-4 Sunday) or go with Philipp Grubauer, winner in Vegas Friday.
The Kings, smarting from another 3-2 overtme loss, in this case to Ottawa here in LA Sunday, will be motivated to slow down the Kraken’s rise in the Pacific Division standings. They bring balanced scoring with seven players with 16 or more points, led by free-agent signee Kevin Fiala (seven goals, 14 assists).