The Blackhawks (5-4-3) are set to clash with the Kraken (5-2-4) at 7:00 p.m., and it's a matchup that's stirring up plenty of debate among fans and analysts alike. Imagine a team struggling so much to get the puck on net that it's practically begging for a wake-up call – that's the Kraken's predicament right now, and it's got everyone questioning whether they can turn things around before it's too late.
But here's where it gets controversial: Is shot selection a strategic choice, or is it just plain stubbornness? The Kraken managed a mere 12 shots on goal during regulation in their recent game against the New York Rangers, only adding one more in overtime to make it 13. That's their lowest total ever in a single contest, surpassing the previous low by just four shots. You could argue that it's reminiscent of the legendary Soviet Central Red Army's 3-3 tie with the Montreal Canadiens on New Year's Eve 1975, a game many consider one of the greatest in hockey history despite the Red Army taking only 13 shots. However, let's be real – the Kraken, currently dead last in the NHL with just 263 total shots, don't have the same elite skating, precise passing, or masterful positioning that made that Red Army squad so unstoppable.
To shake things up, Kraken coach Lane Lambert mixed the forward lines during Monday's morning skate. He bumped Eeli Tolvanen up to the top trio alongside Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle, leaving Berkly Catton as the odd one out. Jani Nyman shifted to center Shane Wright's line with Mason Marchment, while Kaapo Kakko moved to a unit featuring Chandler Stephenson and Jaden Schwartz. It's anyone's guess how this lineup shakeup will play out when the puck drops.
Coach Lambert has been vocal about the need for more shots for nearly a week now. He pointed it out last Tuesday after the team mustered only 10 shots in the first 40 minutes against Montreal – and that's saying something, because that was a veritable avalanche compared to their paltry output against the Rangers. The Kraken dodged a loss by earning a point in overtime in both of those tough games against strong opponents. For context, the NHL record for the fewest shots in a win is nine, held by the San Jose Sharks and Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1998-99 season when they each scored four goals in 4-0 shutouts. This season, teams like the Los Angeles Kings and tonight's Blackhawks opponents have won with just 14 shots. The Kraken could have matched that if they'd buried one final overtime shot against the Rangers. And this is the part most people miss: relying solely on airtight defense and stellar goaltending to snag points is a risky gamble. The Kraken need to start firing more pucks toward the net – not even necessarily into it – to give themselves a fighting chance. Otherwise, their luck might run out faster than a power-play opportunity.
No Offense, But, Where’s The Offense? It's a classic chicken-and-egg problem: without shots, scoring becomes nearly impossible. The Kraken have slipped to 24th out of 32 teams in goals per game, averaging just 2.73, and they're dead last in expected goals at 29, according to MoneyPuck analytics. This trend can't continue if they want to keep collecting points. Bringing back Kaapo Kakko should provide a spark, and Jared McCann's return in the near future will be a game-changer. Ryker Evans' comeback could add some offensive punch from the blue line too. Still, the team has topped three goals only twice in 11 games, and even then, it was just four goals each time. They desperately need to create more high-quality chances up close, like they did early in the season. Right now, the Kraken are last in the league for shots from high-danger and medium-danger zones, and they're only 25th in the percentage of goals coming from rebounds. 'The last couple of games, we've talked about shot volume and shots creating other shots,' Lambert said Monday. 'Just putting more pucks to the net. You’ve got to score 'greasy' goals in this league. We’re not going to be able to pass it into the net.' And here's a controversial take: Some might say the Kraken should focus on puck possession and precision over volume, but in a league where 'greasy' goals – those lucky bounces and scrappy plays – make the difference, is volume really the villain? They also need to give goalie Joey Daccord more breathing room, aiming for an extra goal per game on some nights. Daccord has impressively gone 5-1-3 in his nine regulation starts, but his save percentage and goals saved above expected are declining as he handles the bulk of the workload. It's time to lighten his load and build some insurance.
Know The Foe: This isn't the same Blackhawks team that's been an easy target in recent years. They've upgraded their young core, anchored by former first-overall pick Connor Bedard, and added veteran firepower with players like ex-Kraken forwards Ryan Donato and Andre Burakovsky. Burakovsky, returning to Climate Pledge Arena after last summer's trade, is part of that mix. Bedard tops the Blackhawks with six goals and nine assists, while Burakovsky is tied for third in scoring with four goals and five assists. He's on a three-game point streak and has two multi-point games in his three prior matchups against the Kraken. Donato, who signed a four-year, $16 million extension in June, is tied with Bedard for the team goal lead. This is the third game of their five-game West Coast road trip, after losses to tough teams in Winnipeg and Edmonton, though they did earn a point. Defensively, they're solid with a .907 team save percentage, eighth-best in the NHL. Goalie Spencer Knight boasts a .913 save percentage in nine of 12 starts, including 27 saves on 30 shots in a 3-2 overtime defeat in Edmonton on Saturday. But is this renewed Blackhawks squad overrated, or are they poised to surprise? Fans have been debating their potential all season.
Projected Lines/Pairings (not official):
Tolvanen - Beniers - Eberle
Marchment - Wright - Nyman
Schwartz - Stephenson - Kakko
Kartye - Meyers - Winterton
Dunn - Larsson
Lindgren - Montour
Mahura - Oleksiak
Daccord
What do you think, hockey fans? Is the Kraken's low-shot approach a smart, sustainable strategy, or a recipe for disaster? Do you agree that volume in shooting is key, or should they stick to precision? Share your thoughts in the comments – and let's hear your take on whether the Blackhawks can keep up this momentum!
