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The NHL’s newest team, the Seattle Kraken, will face off against the Minnesota Wild for the first time on April 9, 2023. As a new team, the Kraken will be looking to establish themselves as a competitive team in the league, while the Wild will aim to continue their strong form and secure a playoff spot. Let’s take a closer look at these two teams and how they match up against each other.
28 MARCH 2023
TIME: 08:00 PM ET
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The Seattle Kraken began their inaugural season in 2021-2022, finishing with a record of 24-44-14. This season, they have shown improvement and are currently 28-30-10 as of March 26, 2023.
Offensively, the Kraken have struggled to find their footing this season. They have the fourth-worst goals-per-game average in the league, with an average of 2.44 goals per game. However, they have some key players who can contribute, including center Jared McCann and left wing Jaden Schwartz.
Defensively, the Kraken have been stronger. They have the 16th-best goals-against average in the league, with an average of 3.04 goals per game. They have a solid defense led by defenseman Mark Giordano, who brings experience and leadership to the team.
In goal, the Kraken have relied on a duo of goaltenders, Philipp Grubauer and Chris Driedger. Both have shown flashes of brilliance this season, but the team’s struggles on offense have often left them with little margin for error.
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild have been a consistent team in recent years, finishing the 2021-2022 season with a record of 41-27-8 and making it to the first round of the playoffs. This season, they are currently 37-24-7 as of March 26, 2023.
Offensively, the Wild have been solid this season. They have the 11th-best goals-per-game average in the league, with an average of 3.18 goals per game. They have a balanced attack, with multiple players who can contribute on the scoresheet, including left wing Kirill Kaprizov and center Joel Eriksson Ek.
Defensively, the Wild have been one of the best teams in the league. They have the second-best goals-against average in the NHL, with an average of 2.24 goals per game. They have a strong defense led by defenseman Jared Spurgeon and goaltender Cam Talbot, who has been one of the league’s top goaltenders this season.
Comparison
When comparing the Seattle Kraken and the Minnesota Wild, it’s clear that the Wild are the stronger team this season. They have a more balanced attack and a stronger defense than the Kraken.
Offensively, the Wild have the edge. They have a more potent attack than the Kraken, with multiple players who can contribute on the scoresheet. The Kraken have struggled to score goals this season and will need to find more consistency on offense to compete with the Wild.
Defensively, the Wild are clearly the stronger team. They have been one of the best defensive teams in the league this season, while the Kraken have struggled at times on defense. The Kraken will need to tighten up defensively if they hope to compete with the Wild.
In terms of goaltending, both teams have solid options. The Kraken have relied on a duo of goaltenders, while the Wild have a standout goaltender in Cam Talbot. While the Kraken’s goaltending has been solid this season, Talbot has been one of the league’s top goaltenders and gives the Wild an edge in this category.
