Road-Weary Rangers Visit a Kraken Barn That Keeps Its Points
New York's lone road win looms large in Seattle, where two clubs level on points meet from opposite conferences.
Written before the game
The Seattle Kraken have been winning more than their chances suggest, and the New York Rangers arrive with the better shot profile but the worse road record. That tension frames Saturday's tilt at Climate Pledge Arena.
Over their last ten games, Seattle has been outchanced on most nights yet still banked 6 wins. Their chances have been worth about 2.94 goals a game in expected goals (how many goals their looks should produce), while giving up chances worth 3.37. The Kraken have also been out-attempted badly, averaging 50.1 shot attempts for against 64.4 against. A team winning while being outshot like that has had the bounces go its way.
New York's last ten look more even: chances worth 3.21 for and 3.24 against, with shot attempts close to level. Yet the Rangers are just 4-5-1 in that stretch, and the road has been the problem: 1-5-1 away from the Garden against 8-2-0 at home. They do come in on a two-game win streak after beating Philadelphia.
Seattle is 5-2-0 at home and 6-3-1 over its last ten, coming off a 2-1 overtime win over Calgary.
Standings: Both clubs sit on 19 points. Seattle is third in the Pacific and seventh in the West with two games in hand on New York; the Rangers are third in the Metropolitan and ninth in the East. Points here matter for both, but the Rangers need proof they can win away from home.