Opinion
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Ice Rivalry Heats Up at SAP Center: Seattle Kraken vs San Jose Sharks

As the Seattle Kraken prepare to face off against the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center at San Jose, fans are buzzing with anticipation. The Kraken's recent performance on ice suggests that they might have what it takes to dominate their upcoming game.


Nov 22, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord (35) blocks a goal shot by San Jose Sharks center William Eklund (72) during the third period at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

The Kraken's last game against the Anaheim Ducks on December 24th showcased a solid victory with a score of 3-2. Their offense was firing on all cylinders, netting two goals in the first period and securing their win with an additional goal in the third. The team's shooting percentage stood out at 14 percent, reflecting their ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Moreover, their goaltender was nearly impenetrable, boasting a save percentage of 94 percent and allowing only two goals against.


Seattle's defensive play also deserves praise; they blocked an impressive number of shots and maintained a positive plus-minus rating. However, one area where they struggled was faceoffs – winning only 37 percent of them. This is an aspect that could be crucial in controlling the game against San Jose and is something that needs improvement.


Nov 22, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken left wing Brandon Tanev (13) jumps over San Jose Sharks defenseman Kyle Burroughs (4) during the second period at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

In contrast to this victory, Seattle faced some challenges during their encounter with Los Angeles Kings on December 21st. Despite putting up a strong fight and pushing through until the end of regulation time tied at one apiece, they ultimately fell short in overtime resulting in a final score of 2-1 for LA Kings. The Kraken displayed resilience by maintaining even strength throughout most of the game but were hindered by minor penalties which could have been avoided.


Looking back further to December 19th when they clashed with Dallas Stars reveals another tough battle where Seattle managed to force overtime after trailing early but eventually succumbed with a scoreline reading four goals to three for Dallas Stars. It’s worth noting that even though they lost this match-up as well as against LA Kings, both games were closely contested which indicates that SEA has been competitive even when not coming out on top.


Nov 22, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (22) plays the puck while defended by San Jose Sharks defenseman Kyle Burroughs (4) during the second period at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

With these past performances in mind, it seems clear that if SEA can maintain their offensive prowess while tightening up faceoff plays and minimizing penalties then there’s no reason why they can’t skate away from SAP Center victorious once again.


Fans eager to see whether Seattle will continue its assertive play or if San Jose will defend its home ice should mark January 30th on their calendars – puck drop is scheduled for January 30th at SAP Center at San Jose starting from what would be equivalent local time zone conversion from UTC (7:30 PM PST). This thrilling matchup can be caught live nationally via ESPN+ or regionally through NBCS-CA channel number 698 for home viewership or ROOT Sports NW channel number 687 for those cheering from away.

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