(Seattle) We are reaching the point of the season where the poster for certain matches is not exactly enticing. The Sunday duel that is emerging between the Canadian and the Seattle Kraken falls into this less popular category.
The CH, given the recent victories of the Arizona Coyotes and the Ottawa Senators, slipped to 28e rank in the general classification. The Kraken is only three places ahead (25e).
The two teams have only signed two victories in their last 10 matches. The Montrealers have the very slim advantage, for what it’s worth, of having amassed two more points during this sequence thanks to two overtime defeats. Nothing to show off, let’s say.
Where today’s rivals are most similar is in their inability to score goals. The Habs have only scored six in their last four games; the Kraken, six in his last five.
And curiously, the solution identified by their respective head coaches is the same: create scoring chances near the net. “Inside” were their exact words.
“It’s a team that plays passively in its zone, like the Calgary Flames,” noted Trevor Letowski, interim head coach of the Canadiens. In the sense that rather than chasing the puck carrier like a shadow, as the Vancouver Canucks did last Thursday, the Kraken protect the slot like a fortress, leaving more space on the periphery. Letowski therefore expects to see his men work “deeply” to create these precious chances, which have been so rare in Vancouver.
CH’s trip to the west of the continent has so far not been very successful, with three defeats in as many outings, including one in overtime, in Edmonton.
PHOTO BOB FRID, USA TODAY SPORTS VIA REUTERS CON
The Canadian has not won since the start of his trip to the West.
“It’s an important match,” the pilot continued on Sunday morning. Winning will make us feel better. We have made good efforts recently, but ultimately, we have to put two points on the table. We know that this is a team in difficulty and that it will not be easy. They play with a lot of rhythm. […] We won’t be able to take our foot off the accelerator. »
Cayden Primeau will be entrusted with the net. The young goaltender will try to redeem his lukewarm performance last weekend in Calgary. Otherwise, Jesse Ylönen will be inserted into the lineup, after being left out for the last six games. Jayden Struble will also return, while Tanner Pearson and Johnathan Kovacevic, respectively, will give way to them.
The meeting will begin at 9 p.m., Quebec time.
Looking for solutions
On the Seattle side, the current offensive breakdown leaves everyone a little speechless. It’s hard to explain why we score practically one goal less per match, on average, than last season. We are also looking to end an ugly seven-game winless slide.
“If I had the answer, we wouldn’t be in this situation,” said Yanni Gourde after the Kraken’s morning training. We have difficulty creating chances in the middle of the ice. And when we have our chances, we are not capable of “finishing” the teams, increasing our lead or starting the match with a big goal. It’s hard to explain. »
PHOTO RICK SCUTERI, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Kraken struggles to score goals.
The most glaring example of this difficulty in “finishing” an opponent occurred Friday in Arizona. Leading 1-0 over the Coyotes with 90 seconds left in the third period, the Kraken ended up losing 2-1 in overtime.
You can’t win by scoring just one goal. We must find a way to get out of this lethargy as quickly as possible. We played some good matches recently, but in crucial moments, our execution was not up to par and it cost us victories.
Tomas Tatar
Head coach Dave Hakstol called on his troops to “take a deep breath.” And he also delivered a plea in favor of the presence of his attackers between the faceoff circles and the opposing goal.
“We must access [à cet espace] and maintain confidence in our ability to execute plays, he explained. We don’t want to get to the point where we have to force plays and take unnecessary risks. »
Hakstol also seemed amused by the question from the representative of The Press on the identity of his starting goalkeeper, who apparently is not in the habit of revealing this information on a match morning. A good player, he revealed, in a world exclusive, that it would be Philipp Grubauer. Our feeling of duty accomplished cannot be described in words.