The Seattle Kraken are set to make their NHL debut in the 2021-2022 season and have already made waves in the hockey world. With the team’s first season quickly approaching, many fans are wondering how the Kraken will fare against their opponents. One of the most highly anticipated matchups of the season is the Kraken’s playoff series against the Dallas Stars. Geoff Baker, a hockey analyst for The Athletic, recently made a prediction on the outcome of the series. Here’s what you should watch for in this matchup.
First, Baker predicts that the Kraken will have the advantage in goal. He believes that Seattle’s goaltending duo of Marc-Andre Fleury and Thatcher Demko will be able to outplay Dallas’ Ben Bishop and Anton Khudobin. Fleury and Demko have both proven to be reliable goaltenders in the past, and Baker believes that they will be able to shut down the Stars’ offense.
Second, Baker predicts that Seattle’s defense will be a major factor in the series. He believes that the Kraken’s defense corps, which includes veterans like Mattias Ekholm and Nate Schmidt, will be able to contain Dallas’ high-powered offense. Baker also believes that Seattle’s defensive depth will be a major factor, as they have several young players who can step up and play big minutes if needed.
Third, Baker believes that Seattle’s offense will be the key to success in this series. He believes that the Kraken’s top line of Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller, and Brock Boeser will be able to outplay Dallas’ top line of Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and Alexander Radulov. Baker also believes that Seattle’s depth at forward will be a major factor, as they have several young players who can step up and contribute if needed.
Finally, Baker predicts that Seattle’s special teams will be a major factor in this series. He believes that the Kraken’s power play, which features Pettersson, Miller, and Boeser, will be able to outplay Dallas’ penalty kill. He also believes that Seattle’s penalty kill, which features veterans like Ekholm and Schmidt, will be able to contain Dallas’ power play.
Overall, Baker believes that the Kraken have a good chance of winning this series against the Stars. He believes that Seattle’s goaltending, defense, offense, and special teams all have the potential to outplay Dallas in this matchup. If the Kraken can play up to their potential and execute their game plan, they should be able to come away with a win in this series.
