The Kraken come home off a 5-city trip that earned 7 of a possible 10 points, a good result that ended badly. Florida ran them over 8-3 in the finale. Joey Daccord gave up a career-high 8 goals on 38 shots, most of which weren't on him, and Freddy Gaudreau called the team "disconnected." Lane Lambert wasn't any easier on them: "I need to see a lot more of everything." As of today Seattle has lost 2 straight, with a 4-3 loss in Tampa before the Florida game.
Seattle has a game before this one. The Kraken host Detroit, a team they already beat 6-3 on the road earlier this month, and that game settles a lot. It decides whether Seattle comes into Thursday having steadied itself or riding a 3-game skid, who the goalie will be after Daccord's rough night, and how much work the depleted defense does in the meantime. Utah gets the rest edge either way, with 2 days off after the Pittsburgh game and a flight to a building where the home team just got back from 11 days away.
Seattle's injury list hits the same position. Ryan Lindgren is on IR with an upper-body injury and expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks, and Brandon Montour is day-to-day. Montour is the one to watch. If he's back, Seattle's top 4 looks a lot more normal. If he isn't, both teams are playing a defenseman or 2 short in a game where neither has been stingy lately. Up front the Kraken are also without Jacob Melanson indefinitely and Jake O'Brien on non-roster IR, and Utah is still missing Michael Carcone week-to-week.
There are bright spots for Seattle among the forwards. Shane Wright tied the Florida game in the 1st period off a net-front pass from Berkly Catton, and Gaudreau has 5 goals in 9 games. The Kraken also have home ice for 6 of their next 7, starting here. Put that up against a Utah team that has scored 4 or more in 4 of its last 5 and you get a game that should be decided by which defense holds up better. Neither one has a full roster right now.