The Blackhawks are currently 2-2-0 after winning their first home game of the 2022-23 regular season in Chicago on Friday. For a team that is supposedly in the process of rebuilding, this is a good sign that they continue to beat the teams they should. They plan to bring the record to a Sunday matinee in Chicago with the Seattle Kraken.
But it’s not great for a team looking to acquire Conor Bedard at the end of the year. The Coyotes are 1-4-0, the Sharks are 1-6-0 for him, and the Canucks are 0-4-2 for him. Having the Blackhawks in the middle of the Central Division is probably the worst long-term scenario for this team.
Fortunately, the Blackhawks host the Seattle Kraken on Sunday. This team seems to have improved in its first season and is now 2-2-2. The Kraken currently sits third in the Pacific, and one more win for him on Sunday could extend his lead over teams like Edmonton and Los Angeles.
The Kraken are led by Jaden Schwartz and newcomer Andre Brakowski, both with five points. Former Central Division opponent Schwartz signed in free agency in the summer and Brakovski was transferred after winning the cup with the Avalanche last season.
No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, rookie Matty Beniers got off to a strong start with four points in six games. The Kraken also gave 2022 No. 4 overall pick Shane his Wright a chance to start the season, with Wright picking up an assist in his four games.
Seattle has been in possession so far this season, with 55.25% shot share at 5-5, which ranks it seventh in the NHL, and also seventh in expected goal share at 55.46%. Compared to last season where the Kraken had 50.07 SF% (15th) and he had 48.36 xGF% (19th), the Kraken is far ahead of Dave under his coach Huxtle in 2022-23. Excellent.
Seattle needs to make more use of their goaltending this season to stay competitive — Martin Jones has a .875 save percentage and Philip Gulbauer has a .860 to start the season — but , don’t expect much when you have to rely on Jones after he was acquired by the Sharks this offseason.
Last year’s Kraken was a team to beat even in this iteration of Chicago, so this could be another test for the Blackhawks, but this year’s team may be different. Despite winning two games in a row, we look to remain calm on the scoresheet. Kane has just one assist in four games this season, but others are up in draft stock.
After a 2-1 start to the season, Petr Murazek is likely to miss the match due to a groin injury. The last time Sturrock started, he allowed only one goal against Vegas.
After two straight wins, he said, “Okay, we can still beat some teams and Luke Richardson might be good at his job. Will we be able to orbit this sunken ship all the way to the bottom of the ocean?”
Let’s tank, Hawks.
Tale of the Tape (last season stats)
Blackhawks — Stats — Kraken
45.98% (30th) — Corsi For — 50.59% (13th)
45.48% (30th) — Expected Goals — 48.36 (19th)
2.60 (29th) — Goals Per Game — 2.6 (28th)
3.52 (26th) — Goals Conceded per Game — 3.46 (24th)
49.6% (16th) — Faceoff — 47.7% (26th)
19.2% (21st) — Power Play — 14.6% (29th)
76.2% (24th) — Penalty Kills — 74.9% (31st)
Lineup schedule (subject to change)
blackhawks
Antanasiu — Domi — Kane
T. Johnson — Toews — Raddysh
Krashev — Dickinson — Rafferty
Kyra — Blackwell — Entwistle
J. Johnson — S. Jones
Tinoldi — Murphy
McCabe — C. Jones
star rock
Cedarbrom
Kraken
Schwartz — Beniers — Eberle
Brakovsky — Wenberg — Björkstrand
McCann — Gould — Coolman
Donato — Wright — Tanev
Dan — Larson
Orexiak — Schultz
Sucy — Borgen
Jones
Gulbauer
how to see, how to hear
when: 1 afternoon
Where: United Center, Chicago
tv set: nbc sports chicago
wireless: WGN 720 (Chicagoland area)
Live stream: sling tv
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