Mammoth Bring the Heavier Attack Into Seattle
Two Western playoff hopefuls on one-game win streaks meet in Seattle, where the Kraken's record looks sturdier than their play.
Written before the game
The standings say this is a close one. The underlying play over each team's last 10 games says something different.
Utah (7-3-0, 14 points) leads the Central and sits third in the West. Seattle (6-3-1, 13 points) is third in the Pacific and fifth in the conference. Only a point separates them, and both arrive on one-game win streaks.
The gap shows up in the shots. Across their last 10, the Mammoth have averaged 66 shot attempts a game while allowing 51.2. The Kraken have been on the other end of that, averaging 50.9 attempts and giving up 68.1.
The quality of chances follows the same pattern. Utah's chances have been worth 3.8 expected goals a game (expected goals estimate how many goals those looks should produce), against 2.58 allowed. Seattle has created 2.97 and allowed 3.46.
That makes Seattle's winning record the bigger surprise. The Kraken have collected points while being outplayed, which suggests the bounces have gone their way. Joey Daccord or Philipp Grubauer in goal may have to cover that gap again, this time against a Utah attack led by Nick Schmaltz and Clayton Keller.
The one opening for Seattle is at the other end. Utah has allowed more than three goals a game, so Jared McCann and Matty Beniers may find some room.
