Will the Seattle Kraken Ride the Wave of Success at Nationwide Arena?

As the Seattle Kraken prepare to face off against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, fans are buzzing with anticipation. The Kraken have been on a formidable streak, showcasing their might in recent games. Their performance on January 12 against the Washington Capitals was nothing short of dominant, with a convincing 4-1 victory that highlighted their offensive prowess and defensive solidity.

The statistics from that game speak volumes about SEA's capabilities. With an impressive 17 percent shooting accuracy and a total of 11 hits, they managed to net four goals while allowing only one past their goaltender—who saved an impeccable 100 percent of shots faced. This level of goaltending excellence has been a consistent theme for SEA, as seen in their January 10 game against the Buffalo Sabres where they emerged victorious with five goals to two and saves tallying up to an astounding 36 out of 38 shots.

SEA's even-strength play has been particularly noteworthy; all nine goals scored in these past two games were during even-strength situations. This demonstrates SEA's ability to capitalize on regular play without relying heavily on powerplays or shorthanded scenarios—though it should be noted that they did score once during powerplay in their clash with Buffalo.

On the other side of the ice stands CBJ, who will be defending home territory come game day. While less is known about CBJ’s recent performances from this data set, what remains clear is that any team hosting has an inherent advantage—the support of home fans can never be underestimated.

However, given SEA’s recent form and statistical dominance—especially in goalkeeping—it would not be far-fetched to predict another strong showing from them when they visit Ohio. The key for SEA will likely lie in maintaining their defensive discipline while continuing to exploit opportunities at even strength.

Kraken enthusiasts should mark their calendars for January 14th when these two teams collide under Columbus skies. Puck drop is scheduled for prime time viewing at Nationwide Arena; fans can catch all the action live on ESPN+ nationally or tune into ROOT Sports NW (channel 687) if following from away territories or BSOH (channel 660) for local broadcasts starting at midnight UTC (7 PM Eastern Time).