Game #41

Seattle Kraken (16-14-9) vs. Buffalo Sabres (17-19-4)

Puck Drop: 7:00 PM EST KeyBank Center

TV: MSG

Radio: WGR-550

Know Your Opponent

Seattle Kraken

Record: 16-14-9

Last Game: 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators

Division Ranking: 5th in the Pacific Division

PP: 17th (20.18%)

PK: 12th (80.53%)

What to Watch

1) Will the Sabres Beat the Kraken for the First Time Ever?

Since the Seattle Kraken are a relatively new NHL franchise, they’ve only played Buffalo a total of four times since Nov. 4, 2021. Unfortunately for the Sabres, the team named after a mythical Scandinavian sea monster won all four contests.

The Blue and Gold have yet to defeat the Kraken, either on home ice at KeyBank Center or at Climate Pledge Arena in the Emerald City. However, there’s a first time for everything. Maybe, just maybe, Buffalo can get a victory over Seattle and enjoy a three-game winning streak, something the team hasn’t managed to accomplish at all this season.

2) Kraken Have Found Their Identity, Can the Sabres Find Theirs?

Seattle started off 2023-24 a little rough, losing quite a few games and struggling to win consistently. Since December, though, the Kraken turned their fortunes around, winning six matchups in a row and eight of their last 10.

According to Seattle head coach Dave Hakstol, the team “didn’t find our identity early in the season.” Now that they have, the coach feels they’re an opponent that does the little things to win and is hard to defeat. Hakstol called his players “a group of guys that scratch and claw defensively and make it really hard to generate anything against us.”

He could have been talking about the Blue and Gold. The Sabres only gave up one goal in each of their last two games against Montreal and Pittsburgh, respectively. If they can continue that tough style of play in their own zone, the home team might pull off another win.

3) More Cheering, Less Booing?

Observers have noted that fans at KeyBank Center are quick to boo the Sabres if they don’t play at the level they should, something that used to be less common. It’s understandable that after 12+ years without a playoff series and glimmers of hope followed by droughts of despair, Buffalo supporters will let the guys on the ice know when they’re not doing enough to win.

While fans are quick to express their displeasure, they’re just as quick to cheer the Sabres when they do win. If the hosts prevail in this contest, expect joyous celebrations in the stands and plenty more in the future if the team can string a few more victories together.

Projected Lineups

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards

Jeff Skinner – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch

JJ Peterka – Dylan Cozens – Jack Quinn

**Jordan Greenway – Casey Mittelstadt – Zach Benson

Zemgus Girgensons – Peyton Krebs – Eric Robinson

**Greenway will be a game-time decision

Defense

Rasmus Dahlin – Henri Jokiharju

Owen Power – Erik Johnson

Mattias Samuelsson – Connor Clifton

Goaltenders

Devon Levi (likely starter), Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Seattle Kraken

Forwards

Tomas Tatar – Matty Beniers – Jordan Eberle

**Jaden Schwartz – Alex Wennberg – Bradon Tanev

Eeli Tolvanen – Yanni Gourde – Oliver Bjorkstrand

Jared McCann – Tye Kartye – Andre Burakovsky

**Schwartz will be a game-time decision

Defense

Vince Dunn – Adam Larsson

Jamie Oleksiak – William Borgen

Brian Dumoulin – Justin Schultz

Goaltenders

Joey Daccord (likely starter), Chris Driedger

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