Thanks to arena construction delays, the NHL’s newest team the Seattle Kraken open up their inaugural season on a long road trip. One of their stops is Prudential Center where the New Jersey Devils will play them in their second game of the season. The Devils first game was an opening night overtime victory on Friday that left fans wanting more.
The Kraken aren’t expected to be very good this year. While the Vegas Golden Knights were open about going into “win-now” mode in their first season, Seattle seems to have opted to build for the future through how they approached the expansion draft. Still, Seattle didn’t have to wait long for that first victory. They won their first game in franchise history via a 4-3 decision over the Nashville Predators in their second game.
Keys To The Game
Back-to-Back Games:
For the first time in franchise history, Seattle is playing back-to-back games. How will Monday night’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers affect them? Back-to-back games on the road are always worse than back-to-back at home. Meanwhile, the Devils will be well rested after Friday’s game. Will they be too well rested after a long layoff?
Penalty Kill:
As exciting as Friday’s game was, the Devils’ biggest Achilles heel was their penalty kill. We can debate if Dawson Mercer deserved that four minute double minor in the second half of the third period or not. For that reason, we won’t say taking penalties is a problem for this Devils team just yet. Those two late power play goals almost cost the Devils the game. That can’t happen in a game where you’re leading 3-1 with five minutes to go.
Seattle’s Back Up Goaltending:
Entering Monday, Philipp Grubauer has played in every one of the Seattle Kraken’s games. With the back-to-back it’s almost definite Chris Dreidger will get his first start of the season. Grubauer is a Vezina favorite. How will the Kraken’s back up goaltending hold up?
Players To Watch
Nathan Bastian:
Bastian returns to Prudential Center after being taken in last summer’s NHL Expansion Draft by the Kraken. In the first three games of the season, he has no points and only two shots on goal, both of which came in their opening night loss to Vegas. Devils’ fans will be happy to see him again and he will be able to rekindle his bromance with Michael McLeod. Well, at least for one night.
Dougie Hamilton:
The crowd wanted to see the Devils latest free agent acquisition and Hamilton wasted no time getting them excited. Scoring only 17 minutes into his Devils debut, Hamilton didn’t wait long to make an impression. His goal gave the Devils the lead in an eventual victory.
Jack Hughes:
We haven’t been able to wait to see Hughes play again ever since he threw that stick into the crowd after scoring the overtime winner. When’s the last time a Devil had as exciting an opening night as Hughes did after the two goal game on Friday? Sure, it was against the Chicago Blackhawks and their lackluster defense. Seattle’s defense does project to be better, but maybe Hughes can add to his early season goal totals. After all, he is on pace for 164 goals.
Projected Lineups
Seattle Kraken
Forwards:
Jaden Schwarts-Jared McCann-Jordan Eberle
Joonas Donskoi-Alexander Wennberg-Kole Lind
Brandon Tanev-Morgan Geekie-Ryan Donato
Nathan Bastian-Riley Sheahan-Mason Appleton
Defensemen
Jamie Oleksiak-Adam Larsson
Mark Giordano-Carson Soucy
Jeremy Lauzon-Haydn Fleury
Goaltenders
Chris Driedger
Philip Grubauer
New Jersey Devils
There was no lineup posted during yesterday’s morning skate. So, when it’s released, sometime Tuesday morning, we will post it to our page.
However, it’s being reported that Damon Severson will play in his first game of the season, while Miles Wood, Ty Smith, and Mackenzie Blackwood remain out.
Prediction
Even without Mackenzie Blackwood in net, the Devils should be the better team. The Kraken are going to be tired anyway. Let’s say 4-1 New Jersey Devils.