November 26, 2025 • 23 mins
Mike Benton with the Nov. 26 episode of Kraken This Morning, ahead of the 7pm PT matchup between the Seattle Kraken and Dallas Stars at Climate Pledge Arena, and joined by Kraken Hockey Network TV host Ian Furness.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to Cracking This Morning, a presentation of the Cracking
Audio Network. Ken Sports Radio ninety three point three KJR FM.
Here's Mike Benton. Thanksgivings right around the corner. And Hey,
if you're going to be on the road here for
tomorrow with the biggest traffic day of the year, why
not stop on by Climate Pledge Arena and check out
the Seattle Cracking and the Dallas Star is gonna be
(00:23):
a great one going down here. Mike betting with you
for Cracking this morning. On a Wednesday, November twenty six,
Cracking Stars two game home swing opening up at Climate
Pledge Arena based off says seven, We're on air six
thirty pregame shows served up by frostbrewed cors Light Shoes Chill.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
I've written ali course on the call. I'll join you
back by the corse Light landing in section twenty and
then for postgame at Tom's Watch Bar. All across the
global credit Union, Cracking Audio Network and a couple of
things here to hit on. First off, Cracking Gravy Bow
giveaway first ten thousand fans in the door, don't miss
a plus the Crack and also sporting a new third
(01:02):
Jerseys once again. More details and also tickets at NHL
dot com Slash Kracken. Certainly hope that you can join us.
Ian Arness is going to be with us in just
a bit once again. TV hosts for the KRACK and
Hockey Network also heard on these airwaves at ninety three
to three KJARFM will dive into the Krack in their
(01:22):
progress here at the quarter pole checkpoint of the season,
the essence of shot volume and healthy expectations for Jared
McCann whenever he is due back in the lineup. Ian
Fornash joining us here in just a bit. More on mccam,
by the way, he was seen in practice on Tuesday
at Kracken Community Ice plugs still on injury reserve, but
(01:43):
Lane Lambert's saying he is quote progressing end quote and
taking line rushes with Berkeley Katton and Shane Wright. Jared
mccahn looking to get back into the lineup here, possibly
for the first time since October eighteenth, will certainly keep
an eye on it well. The Kraken, coming off a
road trip where they snagged five points out of a
(02:03):
possible eight with wins through Chicago and Pittsburgh on the
back end, of a loss to Detroit to open the trip,
and then the trip closing out with the one nothing
shootout loss to the New York Islanders with a crack
and again struggling to provide offense, but goaltending very much
taking center stage for this season.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Six fifty left here in this second period bowl Horvat
left side, walks in down the slot, shut right on
by Barzel and a massive save by Joey the cor
Stevenson lost a face off Schaeffer left side, Barzel, Schaeffer
back to Barzel, Fanning on the shot. Barzel to the
(02:43):
high slot, says to lacross.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
One a same by Joey the court on bawl Horvat,
Oh good, now this one cleared all the way down
the ice. We're going to a shootout here on Long Island.
Paul Marry down for the Islanders.
Speaker 5 (02:59):
I'll marry.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
It's the signal.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Picks up the puck on the forehead.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
He's got speed, left circle, far side, Clus back to
the middle. Hey shot, He scores and the Islanders get
the extra point. They win this game won nothing in
a shootout.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Joey de Kortz nagged his second shutout of the regular season.
Seventh of his NHL career, and that count of because
the score was nothing nothing at the end of overtime,
while David Riddick earned a shutout of his own, capped
up by Kyle Palmery's shootout winner won nothing. The Islanders
over the Kraken in the shootout at Ubs are Gona
(03:39):
on Sunday. Let's talk about the road ahead. All right,
road trip in the rearview mirror. Good to be back
home for at least a couple around Thanksgiving. Almost kind
of feels bizarre to have so much time off now,
with practices, days off, Thanksgiving, everything, But that's the beauty
of the NHL season. Ebs and flows He and Farnessa
is also ready here for this one and ready for
(04:01):
Thanksgiving TV hosts of Chorus, Crack and Hockey Network. One
of three here on these airwaves ninety three three kJ
RFM mayor Hello, you're right here for Thanksgiving.
Speaker 5 (04:12):
Quote. I'm pretty close, how about you.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
I'm close from the fact that I have the food
planned out, which I guess you know. You know me,
I tend to be wired to gravitate toward food, so
I've got that all mapped out here. The only concern
is because I've got I've got two kids who were
growing up. Just basically make sure they behave and also
stay out of the pantry.
Speaker 5 (04:34):
I love it, love it. Yeah, I got it, I
got my I got my shopping done. Brian in the
Turkey right now, the whole nine yards. So yeah, we're
ready to rock and all that. Yeah, absolutely, that's gonna
be a lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Well, let's get this game going here as a nice
precursor for Thanksgiving, and I'll just kind of hit refreshed
on a few things that we talked about on Cracking Weekly,
but would love your input. And I think, first off,
when you measure the bar from the road trip this
last week Detroit and then the two wins at Chicago
and Pittsburgh, and then I mean, you're scraping bottom of
(05:09):
the barrel for the back to back and you hold
the Islanders to nothing through sixty five minutes, but it
ends up in a one nothing shootout loss. You get
five points out of eight off the table. How did
that meet your bar from this past four game road trip?
Speaker 5 (05:24):
Fly? It was a good trip. I mean two, one, one,
five of eight in terms of points, only one regulation loss,
A couple of wins. You had to do it the
hard way, dramatic fashion, all those things. But yeah, man,
I thought it was It was a good trip. I
don't think you can ever you come back from a
road trip above five hundred. I think you're in pretty
good shape and you know, you know, hopefully this team
(05:45):
will get some guys back. I mean, scoring still an issue. Defensively,
they've been fantastic and you know, for being honest, they've
they've stolen some games this season in goal like there's
no doubt, like they they got goalied by Katy to Smith,
who I asson will see tonight for Dallas and Sauers
going on against Edmonston. But I you know, for the
most part since Seattle doing that to a lot of
(06:07):
other teams, giving them the old goalie treatment. And Joey
and Krubauer played great. Murray when he was in there,
and they stole some points with those guys, so they
need to start helping them out at the other end offensively.
But you have to feel good about a road trip
when you come back above that five hundred. Bark.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
I'll get to the offense in a bit, and I
think shot volume kind of goes hand in hand with this,
and we asked Lane Lambert about this after practice the
other day when they got back at crack In Community
ice Plex. But I wanted to touch on and we
had a very very spirited and it kind of reached
here to the point maybe admittedly of even fiery about
(06:43):
the usage of the word boring when it comes to
describing a hockey team and a team that also has
been destined. And they have set it from the very
very top of this from this season to play within
a certain sound defensive structure and to suppressed shots, being
that they feel it is the best chance here to victory.
(07:05):
I get it that they don't score a lot of goals.
I get it that they have been trailing in a
lot of very important metrics under the hood. And you
touched on this as well too. They've had us to
heal some games.
Speaker 5 (07:18):
Now.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
I really kind of give credit here to a guy,
a friend of ours named Ryan Clark of ESPN, who
pointed this out the other day five on five. Guess
who's got the best team say percentage in the National
Hockey League none other than the Seattle Kraken at nine
to three seven, barely above Minnesota at nine to three.
(07:40):
Three as of this recording, and trailing them the New
York Rangers, the Dallas Stars, the Colorado Avalanche, and the
Washington Capitals as well. How do you define this team
through the twenty five percent checkpoint of the season?
Speaker 5 (07:57):
Ian, Well, if you described it, well, great goaltending so
far and uh and then defensively and the defensive structure
has been so solid it it's allowed them to stay
in games. You know, they We've talked about it, You've
talked about it with everybody else on these podcasts. It
doesn't matter about you know, like they don't have the
(08:18):
aircraft carry offensive guy, they don't have a I mean
certainly they don't have a forty plus goal scorer on
their roster right now, not in terms of the canal
for a good chunk of the year.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
And I will add to this here as well too,
because I mean again, winning does not mean boring. Winning
means excitement. And I can't go back and help myself.
But remember after the winning is Pittsburgh, how many fans
came up to us at thirty two Bar and Grill
and said, I'm having so much fun watching this team.
Speaker 5 (08:47):
Yeah, winning's funny. Well, winning's fun, you know, winning's fun
and they you know, like I said, they don't have
that guy too. They don't have that guy that's going
to score at an elite raid or guy is Quirl.
So they're going to have to do it by committee,
and they're going to have to play great defense and
prevent the other team from scoring. I mean, as we
stand right now, they're number two in the league goals
against per game, five behind only the juggernaut that is Colorado.
(09:13):
So you know, the printing problem is there. Twenty nine
is scoring goals per game. But but you know, I
think what Lane did is he went in there and yeah,
Lane's got a system that he goes by and it's
very structured what he does. And it's a smart play
because without having that high end of week offensive talent,
then how do you find a way to stay in
every game and win. Well, you do it. What he's
(09:33):
doing it play great defense, play great you're on end,
you know, prevent other opportunities, and then see what you
can do, you know, offensively and on the power play.
And that's what they've done and is so far it's
worked well. I mean, he plays Every game is close,
with one exception. Every game's tight. You know, they they're
rarely really out of it again with one exception, and
(09:53):
you know, as long as they can avoid the damn shootouts,
they'll even better. Right.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
We we into this in deep detail about just how
valuable the shootout is. Do we even like the idea
here for the future and friends, you want to go
ahead and check that out deep dive Cracking wheatly also
up on the iHeartRadio app. But it also kind of
goes hand in hand here. I think with what you
mentioned the lack of an aircraft carrier, and I think
(10:18):
with changing the mindset of how they have to generate offense.
And Lane Lambert went into this after practice more about
shot volume and with what he's trying to do to
help this team pull the trigger a little bit more.
Here's Lane Lambert.
Speaker 6 (10:35):
You know what that's You know, they're not wrong in
some of those situations either, But at the end of
the day, there's also the there's also the philosophy that
shots create shots in terms of rebounds, and you know
there's a chances, B chances see chances and C chances
or C shots can create an a chance off a rebounds,
(10:56):
So you know it's there's there's certainly a balancer. Sometimes
you take a sea shot and it is turnover. But
at the end of the day, you know, you can't
score if you don't shoot the pucket.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
The context of this question was framed that some players
came up in systems and this has kind of been
more prevalent over the last five ten years, where you
almost had to look for a perfect shot because if
you don't a shot on goal basically maybe no better
than your average turnover. But now Lane Lambert is encouraging
(11:30):
guys to shoot, shoot and shoot more. So what do
you make out of this now at this point of
the season, Ian Oh.
Speaker 5 (11:35):
I think what he said is one hundred percent accurate.
The last in league and shots on goal for games,
so I mean you're thirty second in the league. That
it's just you have to generate more offense and you know,
traffic in front of the net. I mean, how many
times do we see just on this road trip, when
traffic in front of the net height shots, deflections off,
you know, a double deflection for and again, to be
(11:58):
honest with you, and puck goes into the back and
then they're going back in the net. Des bye, you know,
playing it around the perimator and playing you know, in
the passing game on the outside and playing like a
three man league or something that the puck's not going
to go in. It has to get to the net.
And and I think it'll get to the net. I
think we'll see that, you know, more and more of
than you know. They give a can back and get
compo coco back. I think that'll help. But they just
(12:20):
have to shoot the puck one. I mean, I think
you see it all the time. You see guys trying
to make the extra pass as you know, thinking about
that too much. I love what Lane said. I love
that's the message, because yeah, shoot the pucks, big rebound
bang in a second chance opportunity. The way you go.
I think they are looking from the perfect shot all
too often, and we've seen that and so hopefully they
can change that that that mindset, so we'll see it.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Almost kind of feels like we've been waiting on pins
and needles her last several days for Jared McCann and
finally a day that he'll be back here into the lineup,
and it seems maybe as if practice told us a
lot with him in a regular jersey taking line rushes
with Berkeley Catton and Shane Wright as well. But once
he gets back to you, what are healthy expectations for
(13:04):
McCann once he is back to the final.
Speaker 5 (13:07):
You know, Mike, I he's the best goal scorer, so
I think, you know, I think it's nothing else. He
makes somebody else run him better, Like he just raises
the boat, right, So I think with him in the lineup,
they get their better, they're a better hockey team. He
can obviously score at a higher rate. And as you know,
I mean just he's just a good finisher, you know,
(13:29):
and I think he'll make, you know, depending on where
he's playing. I mean, I know the line rushes were
interesting on on Tuesday for sure, but depending where he's playing,
I mean, we know he's got chemistry with every lead
before and Beneer's and whomever. So I'm excited to see
him play. I'm excited to see him be in there.
And they frankly need him, to be honest with you,
they really do need him. They he's a big part
of their team. And you know, again without having you know,
(13:52):
they don't have Nathan McKinnon and Connor McDavid whatever, But
you know, he's as important to the crack and as
those guys that I just mentioned art of their teams,
they have to get him in there. And I think
once he does come back, I think it will elevate
the whole thing.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
This is one idea that we've run across before, just
kind of an off air conversations and something that to
our dear colleague and friend, Andrews Furst would be just
completely giddy about and like it's basically a Christmas present
coming early here where you go with a three four
to two defenseman set up here for the power play,
which then bumps Brandon Ontur up to the top unit.
(14:27):
Different conversation there, but in theory then maybe for the
second unit that would open up something for Ryker Evans
to operate more. And I lead into this from what
I just mentioned here. Ryker Evans since he came back,
first nine games, he's got six points now, pretty solid.
(14:49):
And we've been talking a lot about Vince Dunn and
his impact, Brandon Ontour and his impact offensively. But what
do you make so far out of Ryker Evans because
he's been getting a lot more ice time, especially the
last few games here.
Speaker 5 (15:01):
Well, I, first of all, I think you know the
two defensemen. I think we all been kind of pounting
the drums and saying, please let that happen, just to
get done in Montour out there. I know that there's
maybe you know, with so who comes off at that point? Right,
is it march Men? Probably trust to think PP one
who'd come up? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (15:19):
So yeah, so so practice wise PP one you had
done at the point. Then spread across Stevenson ever Lee McCann,
then Veneer's front of the net.
Speaker 5 (15:30):
Well that's PP one. See, I don't think they're going
to go to defenseman because PP two is what is it? Montour?
Speaker 2 (15:35):
You got Monsur on the point, then across you got
march Mint right Tolnan, and then Jayden Swartz front of
the net.
Speaker 5 (15:40):
Yeah, I don't think you're going to I don't think
you're going to go too defensemen. I just don't. You know,
here's the thing. It's nice to have Ryker Evans as
a young guy who's your third one if you need
to or at the end of a power play put
him out there or like we've seen this, guys don't
stay healthy. I mean, Ryker will get his opportunities, but
I I yea his offensive game is flourished. He's always
got a little meat to a mean street. He plays hard,
(16:02):
he plays with an edge. But the offense is coming
to which is good to see, and they need it
because this is a team that, as you know, if
they don't generate offense from the blue line, they're not
gonna win. It's just as simple as that.
Speaker 4 (16:13):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (16:14):
And they've always been near the last couple three years,
different coaches, that's the same thing. They've been near the
top of the league in terms of scoring from defenseman
that has That is not changing obviously with the years
that done and Montour and as you mentioned, Riker are
having with Rykers getting back in the lineup, and you know,
guys like Jimmy Lexiak chipping stuff in as well. Uh No,
I think they're I think they're fine with what they got.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
We've seen Dallas already once and we talked with Mason
Marchman where it has a bit of a different feel
compared to his first trip out there against the Stars.
But you're always looking to beat the team that traded you,
and we can maybe kind of bank on that for
a bit of a bit of an emotional boost here.
But it leads into a pretty interesting slate of games
from now all the way until Christmas, Dallas set Home,
(16:59):
Edmund Road, including two straight games Detroit at home, the
Wild at home, the Kings at home, Utah on the road,
Buffalo who's playing better at home? The ten thousand pounds
juggernaut called the Colorado Avalanche at home, and then four
games on the road Calgary, San Jose, Anaheim and the Kings,
(17:22):
and boom, You're at the holiday break scale of one
to tenian. How critical is this next wretch of games
to define the Craken season?
Speaker 5 (17:31):
Pretty massive. I'm still waiting to see when the easy
part of the schedule comes. When does that come? Like
men right right, like they don't get a break along
the way, Like if they you know, how many games
is that you just listened off?
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Thirteen seven at home, six on the road.
Speaker 5 (17:50):
So if you go, like, let's just for argue and
say they go seven and six, eighteen and eleven at
the break, you'll take that, right, Yeah, for sure? I
mean just I mean they built up a a nice
little cushion. I mean, six teams above five hundred. They
built up that nice cushion that allows them to play
some five hundred hockey for a while and and you know,
(18:10):
but I don't think they'll play five hundred hockey. If
they get m Cam back, I think they'll they'll be
better than that, you know. And we were just starting
to see Coppocock. We'll get a sea legs before he
got hurt that last game, scores a goal twelve seconds later,
He's done. Need him out there, and then you know,
we'll see what the young guys do. I would assume
if those guys come back, Berkeley's going to go to
World Juniors and probably get some confidence doing that. I
(18:31):
have a letter on his jersey and you know, for
Team Canada, which is big, and see what happens with him.
But I think, as you're going through all that stuff, Mikey,
I think if they just go a little bit above
five hundred and the next stretch before Christas break, that's
a that's a heck of a way to go.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
And I'll let you go here with this because this
was a great male bag question. We didn't have enough
time to get to here for the other day, but
it was posed to us. You know, from this standpoint
where Berkeley Catton, it seems as if as made this
team full time. Now, So what is the point with
sending him to World Juniors. Well, you've seen this before.
(19:08):
I've seen this before. When you're going to play at
an international level to the point where you could be
one of their rock stars on that team letter on
your jersey as a leader, and you're facing your peer
group potentially pick him up more offense on top of that,
that's a valuable time. You're coming back with all of
a sudden in the middle of January.
Speaker 5 (19:30):
Yeah, I mean that's why, that's why you go. And
then here's the thing that part of the two is
it if mc can's back, uh, and if Coppo cock
goes back, well then you've got then you've got stuff
with then you get not issues. But then you obviously
ice time starts to become more limited, right yep. As
as it is, Johny Newman is having a hard time
getting the lineup. You know, they got Mulgard up here
right now and and all those things. So what do
(19:52):
you do? You know, like you you ice time will
be limited as long as they're healthy. If they're healthy,
gets pushed down. You don't want him playing on a
fourth line. And so I think that that's part of
what that's part of what comes into play. I know
that it's talking to the Brad Lauer, that Spokane coach
who's on the Team Canada staff for World Juniors this year,
like they're not sure, Like they've got no guarantees the
(20:15):
person who's coming to the World Juniors. So like that
decision hasn't I don't want to say it hasn't been made,
but it at least it has not been articulated to
Team Kennedy, at least the coaches that whether or not
it's a sure thing he's going, there's a chance that
he does, say, but I think that depends on health.
If they're healthy. I think for sure he goes, and
I think it helped him. I think it'd be a
good it'd be good for him as well.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
We can always depend on your health. And as far
as my health for Thanksgiving, my waistline might not as
be as so healthy at about this time coming up
here on Thursday, but I can easily cross my fingers
my friend though, have a great show and have a
happy Thanksgiving as well too.
Speaker 5 (20:50):
Thank you man, you too, my friend. Take care. We'll
buck you soon.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Awesome Ian. Happy Thanksgiving to you family as well. Hope
you enjoy it. Looking forward to seeing you around Climate
Pledge Arena once again. Ian Fornez joining us here from
the Krack and Hockey Network side also one to three
week days ninety three to three KJRFM, all right on
the matters here for the Saving. The Kraken trying to
bounce back after a season series opening lost to Dallas
(21:14):
back earlier this month. They fell two to one in
American Airlines Center. They are searching for just their second
win all time at home against Dallas and franchise history.
Currently their record at one four and one in aiming
for just their third victory overall heading into matchup number
fourteen head to head, Brandon on tour by the way,
(21:35):
the Saving looking like he'll be playing in the one
hundredth game in his Celo Cracken career. He owns twelve
points in eighteen games head to head against the Stars
right now inside for third best among active Kraken skaters
on their roster head to head against Dallas. A few
names to look out for Wyant Johnston owning a four
(21:56):
game goal scoring streak against the Krack, and Jason Robertson
extend his Pois Street to eight consecutive games. Also last
night in Dallas's win cruising over the Edmonton Oilers eight
three at Rogers Place. This will be their second game
of back to back, also getting for Miko Ranton and
back in the lineup actors serving a one game suspension
(22:19):
for a boarding incident last Saturday in Calgary against for
Matt Coronado. Looking forward to having you wherever you may
be again. We have the cracket and stars for matchup
number two of the season, coming up to Climate Pledge
Arena where it begins a pretty critical run here for
the Crack and in their schedule leading up into the
holiday break. We certainly hope that you can join us
(22:39):
beginning at six point thirty for airtime coverage PUG dropping
a little past seven o'clock Pacific time from Climate Pledge
Arena on ninety three to three KJRFM and the Global
Credit Union Kraken Audio Network. Big thank you to Ian
for Neesz for joining us and for kracking this morning.
I'm Mike Benton. Have a happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the game.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
You're home for the Cracking Sports Radio ninety three point
three k j R F M
Welcome to Cracking This Morning, a presentation of the Cracking
Audio Network. Ken Sports Radio ninety three point three KJR FM.
Here's Mike Benton. Thanksgivings right around the corner. And Hey,
if you're going to be on the road here for
tomorrow with the biggest traffic day of the year, why
not stop on by Climate Pledge Arena and check out
the Seattle Cracking and the Dallas Star is gonna be
(00:23):
a great one going down here. Mike betting with you
for Cracking this morning. On a Wednesday, November twenty six,
Cracking Stars two game home swing opening up at Climate
Pledge Arena based off says seven, We're on air six
thirty pregame shows served up by frostbrewed cors Light Shoes Chill.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
I've written ali course on the call. I'll join you
back by the corse Light landing in section twenty and
then for postgame at Tom's Watch Bar. All across the
global credit Union, Cracking Audio Network and a couple of
things here to hit on. First off, Cracking Gravy Bow
giveaway first ten thousand fans in the door, don't miss
a plus the Crack and also sporting a new third
(01:02):
Jerseys once again. More details and also tickets at NHL
dot com Slash Kracken. Certainly hope that you can join us.
Ian Arness is going to be with us in just
a bit once again. TV hosts for the KRACK and
Hockey Network also heard on these airwaves at ninety three
to three KJARFM will dive into the Krack in their
(01:22):
progress here at the quarter pole checkpoint of the season,
the essence of shot volume and healthy expectations for Jared
McCann whenever he is due back in the lineup. Ian
Fornash joining us here in just a bit. More on mccam,
by the way, he was seen in practice on Tuesday
at Kracken Community Ice plugs still on injury reserve, but
(01:43):
Lane Lambert's saying he is quote progressing end quote and
taking line rushes with Berkeley Katton and Shane Wright. Jared
mccahn looking to get back into the lineup here, possibly
for the first time since October eighteenth, will certainly keep
an eye on it well. The Kraken, coming off a
road trip where they snagged five points out of a
(02:03):
possible eight with wins through Chicago and Pittsburgh on the
back end, of a loss to Detroit to open the trip,
and then the trip closing out with the one nothing
shootout loss to the New York Islanders with a crack
and again struggling to provide offense, but goaltending very much
taking center stage for this season.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Six fifty left here in this second period bowl Horvat
left side, walks in down the slot, shut right on
by Barzel and a massive save by Joey the cor
Stevenson lost a face off Schaeffer left side, Barzel, Schaeffer
back to Barzel, Fanning on the shot. Barzel to the
(02:43):
high slot, says to lacross.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
One a same by Joey the court on bawl Horvat,
Oh good, now this one cleared all the way down
the ice. We're going to a shootout here on Long Island.
Paul Marry down for the Islanders.
Speaker 5 (02:59):
I'll marry.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
It's the signal.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Picks up the puck on the forehead.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
He's got speed, left circle, far side, Clus back to
the middle. Hey shot, He scores and the Islanders get
the extra point. They win this game won nothing in
a shootout.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Joey de Kortz nagged his second shutout of the regular season.
Seventh of his NHL career, and that count of because
the score was nothing nothing at the end of overtime,
while David Riddick earned a shutout of his own, capped
up by Kyle Palmery's shootout winner won nothing. The Islanders
over the Kraken in the shootout at Ubs are Gona
(03:39):
on Sunday. Let's talk about the road ahead. All right,
road trip in the rearview mirror. Good to be back
home for at least a couple around Thanksgiving. Almost kind
of feels bizarre to have so much time off now,
with practices, days off, Thanksgiving, everything, But that's the beauty
of the NHL season. Ebs and flows He and Farnessa
is also ready here for this one and ready for
(04:01):
Thanksgiving TV hosts of Chorus, Crack and Hockey Network. One
of three here on these airwaves ninety three three kJ
RFM mayor Hello, you're right here for Thanksgiving.
Speaker 5 (04:12):
Quote. I'm pretty close, how about you.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
I'm close from the fact that I have the food
planned out, which I guess you know. You know me,
I tend to be wired to gravitate toward food, so
I've got that all mapped out here. The only concern
is because I've got I've got two kids who were
growing up. Just basically make sure they behave and also
stay out of the pantry.
Speaker 5 (04:34):
I love it, love it. Yeah, I got it, I
got my I got my shopping done. Brian in the
Turkey right now, the whole nine yards. So yeah, we're
ready to rock and all that. Yeah, absolutely, that's gonna
be a lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Well, let's get this game going here as a nice
precursor for Thanksgiving, and I'll just kind of hit refreshed
on a few things that we talked about on Cracking Weekly,
but would love your input. And I think, first off,
when you measure the bar from the road trip this
last week Detroit and then the two wins at Chicago
and Pittsburgh, and then I mean, you're scraping bottom of
(05:09):
the barrel for the back to back and you hold
the Islanders to nothing through sixty five minutes, but it
ends up in a one nothing shootout loss. You get
five points out of eight off the table. How did
that meet your bar from this past four game road trip?
Speaker 5 (05:24):
Fly? It was a good trip. I mean two, one, one,
five of eight in terms of points, only one regulation loss,
A couple of wins. You had to do it the
hard way, dramatic fashion, all those things. But yeah, man,
I thought it was It was a good trip. I
don't think you can ever you come back from a
road trip above five hundred. I think you're in pretty
good shape and you know, you know, hopefully this team
(05:45):
will get some guys back. I mean, scoring still an issue. Defensively,
they've been fantastic and you know, for being honest, they've
they've stolen some games this season in goal like there's
no doubt, like they they got goalied by Katy to Smith,
who I asson will see tonight for Dallas and Sauers
going on against Edmonston. But I you know, for the
most part since Seattle doing that to a lot of
(06:07):
other teams, giving them the old goalie treatment. And Joey
and Krubauer played great. Murray when he was in there,
and they stole some points with those guys, so they
need to start helping them out at the other end offensively.
But you have to feel good about a road trip
when you come back above that five hundred. Bark.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
I'll get to the offense in a bit, and I
think shot volume kind of goes hand in hand with this,
and we asked Lane Lambert about this after practice the
other day when they got back at crack In Community
ice Plex. But I wanted to touch on and we
had a very very spirited and it kind of reached
here to the point maybe admittedly of even fiery about
(06:43):
the usage of the word boring when it comes to
describing a hockey team and a team that also has
been destined. And they have set it from the very
very top of this from this season to play within
a certain sound defensive structure and to suppressed shots, being
that they feel it is the best chance here to victory.
(07:05):
I get it that they don't score a lot of goals.
I get it that they have been trailing in a
lot of very important metrics under the hood. And you
touched on this as well too. They've had us to
heal some games.
Speaker 5 (07:18):
Now.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
I really kind of give credit here to a guy,
a friend of ours named Ryan Clark of ESPN, who
pointed this out the other day five on five. Guess
who's got the best team say percentage in the National
Hockey League none other than the Seattle Kraken at nine
to three seven, barely above Minnesota at nine to three.
(07:40):
Three as of this recording, and trailing them the New
York Rangers, the Dallas Stars, the Colorado Avalanche, and the
Washington Capitals as well. How do you define this team
through the twenty five percent checkpoint of the season?
Speaker 5 (07:57):
Ian, Well, if you described it, well, great goaltending so
far and uh and then defensively and the defensive structure
has been so solid it it's allowed them to stay
in games. You know, they We've talked about it, You've
talked about it with everybody else on these podcasts. It
doesn't matter about you know, like they don't have the
(08:18):
aircraft carry offensive guy, they don't have a I mean
certainly they don't have a forty plus goal scorer on
their roster right now, not in terms of the canal
for a good chunk of the year.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
And I will add to this here as well too,
because I mean again, winning does not mean boring. Winning
means excitement. And I can't go back and help myself.
But remember after the winning is Pittsburgh, how many fans
came up to us at thirty two Bar and Grill
and said, I'm having so much fun watching this team.
Speaker 5 (08:47):
Yeah, winning's funny. Well, winning's fun, you know, winning's fun
and they you know, like I said, they don't have
that guy too. They don't have that guy that's going
to score at an elite raid or guy is Quirl.
So they're going to have to do it by committee,
and they're going to have to play great defense and
prevent the other team from scoring. I mean, as we
stand right now, they're number two in the league goals
against per game, five behind only the juggernaut that is Colorado.
(09:13):
So you know, the printing problem is there. Twenty nine
is scoring goals per game. But but you know, I
think what Lane did is he went in there and yeah,
Lane's got a system that he goes by and it's
very structured what he does. And it's a smart play
because without having that high end of week offensive talent,
then how do you find a way to stay in
every game and win. Well, you do it. What he's
(09:33):
doing it play great defense, play great you're on end,
you know, prevent other opportunities, and then see what you
can do, you know, offensively and on the power play.
And that's what they've done and is so far it's
worked well. I mean, he plays Every game is close,
with one exception. Every game's tight. You know, they they're
rarely really out of it again with one exception, and
(09:53):
you know, as long as they can avoid the damn shootouts,
they'll even better. Right.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
We we into this in deep detail about just how
valuable the shootout is. Do we even like the idea
here for the future and friends, you want to go
ahead and check that out deep dive Cracking wheatly also
up on the iHeartRadio app. But it also kind of
goes hand in hand here. I think with what you
mentioned the lack of an aircraft carrier, and I think
(10:18):
with changing the mindset of how they have to generate offense.
And Lane Lambert went into this after practice more about
shot volume and with what he's trying to do to
help this team pull the trigger a little bit more.
Here's Lane Lambert.
Speaker 6 (10:35):
You know what that's You know, they're not wrong in
some of those situations either, But at the end of
the day, there's also the there's also the philosophy that
shots create shots in terms of rebounds, and you know
there's a chances, B chances see chances and C chances
or C shots can create an a chance off a rebounds,
(10:56):
So you know it's there's there's certainly a balancer. Sometimes
you take a sea shot and it is turnover. But
at the end of the day, you know, you can't
score if you don't shoot the pucket.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
The context of this question was framed that some players
came up in systems and this has kind of been
more prevalent over the last five ten years, where you
almost had to look for a perfect shot because if
you don't a shot on goal basically maybe no better
than your average turnover. But now Lane Lambert is encouraging
(11:30):
guys to shoot, shoot and shoot more. So what do
you make out of this now at this point of
the season, Ian Oh.
Speaker 5 (11:35):
I think what he said is one hundred percent accurate.
The last in league and shots on goal for games,
so I mean you're thirty second in the league. That
it's just you have to generate more offense and you know,
traffic in front of the net. I mean, how many
times do we see just on this road trip, when
traffic in front of the net height shots, deflections off,
you know, a double deflection for and again, to be
(11:58):
honest with you, and puck goes into the back and
then they're going back in the net. Des bye, you know,
playing it around the perimator and playing you know, in
the passing game on the outside and playing like a
three man league or something that the puck's not going
to go in. It has to get to the net.
And and I think it'll get to the net. I
think we'll see that, you know, more and more of
than you know. They give a can back and get
compo coco back. I think that'll help. But they just
(12:20):
have to shoot the puck one. I mean, I think
you see it all the time. You see guys trying
to make the extra pass as you know, thinking about
that too much. I love what Lane said. I love
that's the message, because yeah, shoot the pucks, big rebound
bang in a second chance opportunity. The way you go.
I think they are looking from the perfect shot all
too often, and we've seen that and so hopefully they
can change that that that mindset, so we'll see it.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Almost kind of feels like we've been waiting on pins
and needles her last several days for Jared McCann and
finally a day that he'll be back here into the lineup,
and it seems maybe as if practice told us a
lot with him in a regular jersey taking line rushes
with Berkeley Catton and Shane Wright as well. But once
he gets back to you, what are healthy expectations for
(13:04):
McCann once he is back to the final.
Speaker 5 (13:07):
You know, Mike, I he's the best goal scorer, so
I think, you know, I think it's nothing else. He
makes somebody else run him better, Like he just raises
the boat, right, So I think with him in the lineup,
they get their better, they're a better hockey team. He
can obviously score at a higher rate. And as you know,
I mean just he's just a good finisher, you know,
(13:29):
and I think he'll make, you know, depending on where
he's playing. I mean, I know the line rushes were
interesting on on Tuesday for sure, but depending where he's playing,
I mean, we know he's got chemistry with every lead
before and Beneer's and whomever. So I'm excited to see
him play. I'm excited to see him be in there.
And they frankly need him, to be honest with you,
they really do need him. They he's a big part
of their team. And you know, again without having you know,
(13:52):
they don't have Nathan McKinnon and Connor McDavid whatever, But
you know, he's as important to the crack and as
those guys that I just mentioned art of their teams,
they have to get him in there. And I think
once he does come back, I think it will elevate
the whole thing.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
This is one idea that we've run across before, just
kind of an off air conversations and something that to
our dear colleague and friend, Andrews Furst would be just
completely giddy about and like it's basically a Christmas present
coming early here where you go with a three four
to two defenseman set up here for the power play,
which then bumps Brandon Ontur up to the top unit.
(14:27):
Different conversation there, but in theory then maybe for the
second unit that would open up something for Ryker Evans
to operate more. And I lead into this from what
I just mentioned here. Ryker Evans since he came back,
first nine games, he's got six points now, pretty solid.
(14:49):
And we've been talking a lot about Vince Dunn and
his impact, Brandon Ontour and his impact offensively. But what
do you make so far out of Ryker Evans because
he's been getting a lot more ice time, especially the
last few games here.
Speaker 5 (15:01):
Well, I, first of all, I think you know the
two defensemen. I think we all been kind of pounting
the drums and saying, please let that happen, just to
get done in Montour out there. I know that there's
maybe you know, with so who comes off at that point? Right,
is it march Men? Probably trust to think PP one
who'd come up? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (15:19):
So yeah, so so practice wise PP one you had
done at the point. Then spread across Stevenson ever Lee McCann,
then Veneer's front of the net.
Speaker 5 (15:30):
Well that's PP one. See, I don't think they're going
to go to defenseman because PP two is what is it? Montour?
Speaker 2 (15:35):
You got Monsur on the point, then across you got
march Mint right Tolnan, and then Jayden Swartz front of
the net.
Speaker 5 (15:40):
Yeah, I don't think you're going to I don't think
you're going to go too defensemen. I just don't. You know,
here's the thing. It's nice to have Ryker Evans as
a young guy who's your third one if you need
to or at the end of a power play put
him out there or like we've seen this, guys don't
stay healthy. I mean, Ryker will get his opportunities, but
I I yea his offensive game is flourished. He's always
got a little meat to a mean street. He plays hard,
(16:02):
he plays with an edge. But the offense is coming
to which is good to see, and they need it
because this is a team that, as you know, if
they don't generate offense from the blue line, they're not
gonna win. It's just as simple as that.
Speaker 4 (16:13):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (16:14):
And they've always been near the last couple three years,
different coaches, that's the same thing. They've been near the
top of the league in terms of scoring from defenseman
that has That is not changing obviously with the years
that done and Montour and as you mentioned, Riker are
having with Rykers getting back in the lineup, and you know,
guys like Jimmy Lexiak chipping stuff in as well. Uh No,
I think they're I think they're fine with what they got.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
We've seen Dallas already once and we talked with Mason
Marchman where it has a bit of a different feel
compared to his first trip out there against the Stars.
But you're always looking to beat the team that traded you,
and we can maybe kind of bank on that for
a bit of a bit of an emotional boost here.
But it leads into a pretty interesting slate of games
from now all the way until Christmas, Dallas set Home,
(16:59):
Edmund Road, including two straight games Detroit at home, the
Wild at home, the Kings at home, Utah on the road,
Buffalo who's playing better at home? The ten thousand pounds
juggernaut called the Colorado Avalanche at home, and then four
games on the road Calgary, San Jose, Anaheim and the Kings,
(17:22):
and boom, You're at the holiday break scale of one
to tenian. How critical is this next wretch of games
to define the Craken season?
Speaker 5 (17:31):
Pretty massive. I'm still waiting to see when the easy
part of the schedule comes. When does that come? Like
men right right, like they don't get a break along
the way, Like if they you know, how many games
is that you just listened off?
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Thirteen seven at home, six on the road.
Speaker 5 (17:50):
So if you go, like, let's just for argue and
say they go seven and six, eighteen and eleven at
the break, you'll take that, right, Yeah, for sure? I
mean just I mean they built up a a nice
little cushion. I mean, six teams above five hundred. They
built up that nice cushion that allows them to play
some five hundred hockey for a while and and you know,
(18:10):
but I don't think they'll play five hundred hockey. If
they get m Cam back, I think they'll they'll be
better than that, you know. And we were just starting
to see Coppocock. We'll get a sea legs before he
got hurt that last game, scores a goal twelve seconds later,
He's done. Need him out there, and then you know,
we'll see what the young guys do. I would assume
if those guys come back, Berkeley's going to go to
World Juniors and probably get some confidence doing that. I
(18:31):
have a letter on his jersey and you know, for
Team Canada, which is big, and see what happens with him.
But I think, as you're going through all that stuff, Mikey,
I think if they just go a little bit above
five hundred and the next stretch before Christas break, that's
a that's a heck of a way to go.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
And I'll let you go here with this because this
was a great male bag question. We didn't have enough
time to get to here for the other day, but
it was posed to us. You know, from this standpoint
where Berkeley Catton, it seems as if as made this
team full time. Now, So what is the point with
sending him to World Juniors. Well, you've seen this before.
(19:08):
I've seen this before. When you're going to play at
an international level to the point where you could be
one of their rock stars on that team letter on
your jersey as a leader, and you're facing your peer
group potentially pick him up more offense on top of that,
that's a valuable time. You're coming back with all of
a sudden in the middle of January.
Speaker 5 (19:30):
Yeah, I mean that's why, that's why you go. And
then here's the thing that part of the two is
it if mc can's back, uh, and if Coppo cock
goes back, well then you've got then you've got stuff
with then you get not issues. But then you obviously
ice time starts to become more limited, right yep. As
as it is, Johny Newman is having a hard time
getting the lineup. You know, they got Mulgard up here
right now and and all those things. So what do
(19:52):
you do? You know, like you you ice time will
be limited as long as they're healthy. If they're healthy,
gets pushed down. You don't want him playing on a
fourth line. And so I think that that's part of
what that's part of what comes into play. I know
that it's talking to the Brad Lauer, that Spokane coach
who's on the Team Canada staff for World Juniors this year,
like they're not sure, Like they've got no guarantees the
(20:15):
person who's coming to the World Juniors. So like that
decision hasn't I don't want to say it hasn't been made,
but it at least it has not been articulated to
Team Kennedy, at least the coaches that whether or not
it's a sure thing he's going, there's a chance that
he does, say, but I think that depends on health.
If they're healthy. I think for sure he goes, and
I think it helped him. I think it'd be a
good it'd be good for him as well.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
We can always depend on your health. And as far
as my health for Thanksgiving, my waistline might not as
be as so healthy at about this time coming up
here on Thursday, but I can easily cross my fingers
my friend though, have a great show and have a
happy Thanksgiving as well too.
Speaker 5 (20:50):
Thank you man, you too, my friend. Take care. We'll
buck you soon.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Awesome Ian. Happy Thanksgiving to you family as well. Hope
you enjoy it. Looking forward to seeing you around Climate
Pledge Arena once again. Ian Fornez joining us here from
the Krack and Hockey Network side also one to three
week days ninety three to three KJRFM, all right on
the matters here for the Saving. The Kraken trying to
bounce back after a season series opening lost to Dallas
(21:14):
back earlier this month. They fell two to one in
American Airlines Center. They are searching for just their second
win all time at home against Dallas and franchise history.
Currently their record at one four and one in aiming
for just their third victory overall heading into matchup number
fourteen head to head, Brandon on tour by the way,
(21:35):
the Saving looking like he'll be playing in the one
hundredth game in his Celo Cracken career. He owns twelve
points in eighteen games head to head against the Stars
right now inside for third best among active Kraken skaters
on their roster head to head against Dallas. A few
names to look out for Wyant Johnston owning a four
(21:56):
game goal scoring streak against the Krack, and Jason Robertson
extend his Pois Street to eight consecutive games. Also last
night in Dallas's win cruising over the Edmonton Oilers eight
three at Rogers Place. This will be their second game
of back to back, also getting for Miko Ranton and
back in the lineup actors serving a one game suspension
(22:19):
for a boarding incident last Saturday in Calgary against for
Matt Coronado. Looking forward to having you wherever you may
be again. We have the cracket and stars for matchup
number two of the season, coming up to Climate Pledge
Arena where it begins a pretty critical run here for
the Crack and in their schedule leading up into the
holiday break. We certainly hope that you can join us
(22:39):
beginning at six point thirty for airtime coverage PUG dropping
a little past seven o'clock Pacific time from Climate Pledge
Arena on ninety three to three KJRFM and the Global
Credit Union Kraken Audio Network. Big thank you to Ian
for Neesz for joining us and for kracking this morning.
I'm Mike Benton. Have a happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the game.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
You're home for the Cracking Sports Radio ninety three point
three k j R F M
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