December 4, 2025 • 19 mins
The Dec. 4 episode of Kraken This Morning, hosted by Mike Benton and joined by Darren Brown of NHL.com and Sound of Hockey, ahead of the 6pm PT matchup at Rogers Place between the Kraken and Edmonton Oilers.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to Cracking this morning, a presentation of the Kraken
Audio Network Ken Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Here's Mike Benton.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
A little pause in the calendar is finally in the
rearview mirror. We're set for the Kracking in the Edmonton
Oilers this evening from Rogers Place, a rematch of last Saturday.
Mike Benton with you for Cracking this morning. This game
coming to you on a Thursday, December fourth, with the
Kraken opening up the calendar for the new month, still
very much in the playoff mix at eleven seven and
(00:34):
six twenty eight points one ahead of Edmonton with a
record of eleven eleven and five. Opening face off six
pm again Pacific time from Edmonton. Ever it fits you,
al Kiniski on the call. I'll join you from Network
Central for your pregame show served up by Frostbrewed Corps
Light Choose Chill, opening up five thirty on ninety three
(00:55):
to three KJARFM for the radio flagship and all across
the global. Credit you Kraken Audio Network, with the Kraken
looking for payback after a four nothing to feed to Edmonton,
who was pretty ready. It appeared with their familiar cast
chipping in getting goals for the likes of Ryan Nugent Hopkins,
Connor McDavid and Leon Dreys. Title we will hear from
(01:18):
head coach Lane Lambert and his comments to the media
after practice on Wednesday at Kraken Community Ice plus plus
Darren Brown joining us of NHL dot com and also
soundof Hockey dot Com. Additionally getting into our biggest takeaway
from practice, Mason Marchman's absence, emotional carryover from this last
weekend and surprises so far neck and neck proverbial le
(01:41):
with the crack and right now in the race within
the Western Conference. Darren Brown joining us here in just
a bits well for the previous few days, the crack
and missing Mason Marchman. Originally on Monday, head coach Lane
Lambert saying that it was due to a maintenance day,
but still no Marchman on ice leading through Wednesday. Brandon Montor,
who missed practice Monday and Tuesday, was back on ice
(02:04):
as well, along with the Kraken trying to tidy up
their game with a winless schedule, trying to end right
now at three consecutive games. After practice Wednesday at coach
Lane Lambert met with the media to discuss more.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
You see Monty out there practicing. Any update on.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
Mason and yeah, he's not gonna travel. You won't play tomorrow,
and we'll see. We're hopeful he'll play Saturday.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Is it any designation you can share up or lower
or something else.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
No, we'll just keep it at that.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Obviously, you talk a lot about special teams work and such.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
To and we saw some more of that today.
Speaker 5 (02:37):
Yeah, is there a way that almost like iron can
sharp and iron in the sense that your power play
and your penalty killing units are competing against each other,
but in a way these practice environments kind of know
what each other's trying to do.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Is that almost help in the practice?
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Well, the competition between the two like is critical. You know,
if you have if you have a good power play,
it improves your penalty kill. If you're penalty kill is good,
then it improves your power play vice versas. So you know,
we did we did a lot of film in the
last couple of days. We did some work on the
ice in the last couple of days. On both things.
Because you know, we talk about our power play. Our
(03:13):
power play is one us Some hockey games this year,
and you know you're going to go through little stretches
in the season eighty two games where you know, maybe
the power play is you know, gets a little gets
a little dry. It's not like we didn't have shots,
you know, our penalty kill, you know, to give up
twenty goals here so far in twenty four games, to me,
that's a problem. And you know, we talk about our
(03:35):
power player, our power play, you know, our penalty kill
is right now has to be better.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
To that point, do you think it's a function of
is it just not properly executing their all the penalty killer?
Is there something else you're seeing that could.
Speaker 6 (03:47):
Be behind that?
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Yeah, there's there's some lack of execution and responsibilities, you know,
and it's it's tough to be a penalty killer in
the National Hockey League, and you know we're we're kind
of developing on the fly as we go here with
certain guys and they're going to have to be better.
It's just the bottom line, like you know, we can
sit here and say, okay, this is that and the
(04:08):
next thing, but twenty four games into it and twenty goals,
you know, whoever's killing penalties has to be better. Doesn't
matter if you've killed in the National Hockey League before
or not. You've got to be better because we know
exactly what we're supposed to do now, it's a matter
of executing on the.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Mental side of that. How do you keep that from
creeping in? You know that every time there's a power play, Lord,
here we go again, how do you keep the focus
there and.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Not have that spiral? Or is there you said to
any of them on adage, Well, I mean I think
you can potentially sense it at some you know, at
some point, right uh, you know, and again like it's
not like we haven't been playing against top power plays,
but you know, I mean, take a look at our
take a look at our buffet of power plays we
(04:51):
have coming up here, and you know it's you know,
if it isn't you know, McDavid and drysitle tomorrow, it's
Caprice off. And if it isn't Caprice off, it's Nathan
McKinnon and mccarr And you know, like we have to
be better. So the question that you asked is does
it spiral or you know, is there some we have
to get on some kind of a run here to
get our confidence back and at the end of the day,
(05:15):
you know, you have to go out there with confidence,
you have to go out there with a little bit
of swagger no matter what's been happening, because you know,
it's it's every team goes through it at one point
or another during the season, so you know, we just
have to make sure that doesn't creep in.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
We've talked to you plenty obviously about special teams from
an even strength perspective, How do you feel about what
the group has done.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
To generate among that? Well, I think if you look
at our shot attempts, which is kind of like the
big thing, you know, that we've talked about, they've they've
risen over the last two weeks, you know, and you know,
we want to be better than average, but we're probably
about four shot attempts below league average, you know, And
(05:57):
so it's there's there certainly is a way to get there,
you know, And I think that from that standpoint, our
offense will you know, it will help our offense from there, clearly.
I think that you know, when you're having trouble scoring,
it takes away a little bit of the swagger. It
takes away a little bit of the swagger from the
power play and the guy's on the power play, and
(06:18):
then when that doesn't score, then it bleeds into the
five on five. So you know what, it's just a
matter of taking a deep breath, getting a starting with
a clean slate, so to speak, and you know, having
confidence we're good hockey team.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Of sort of having to snowball build confident.
Speaker 5 (06:35):
Now there's a breath that can happen. Like people look
at this last couple of days, it's possibly a breath
that can happen, so that you can have that refocus
and sort of reset the mindset almost.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
Well, I think I think you have to look at
it that way, and I think you can look at
it that way. And that's why we, you know, split
up practices the way we did, you know, and you
also have to enjoy the game and you have to
have fun, right and so when you know, when you're
squeezing your stick or you know you're sort of feeling
the outside noise of not scoring, you know, it's tough
(07:06):
to do that. But we have to remember that, you know,
we're we're here to compete. We gotta love competing, and
we have to have.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Fun ahead of the rematch this evening, our friend Darren
Brown of NHL dot com also see see Oh we
should say for the sound of hockey, been that since
the dawn of time, joining us once again on cracking
this morning. It's been a while, but Darren has been here, there,
and everywhere, my friend. On a belated note, Happy Thanksgiving.
(07:34):
How was on your end?
Speaker 6 (07:37):
That's fantastic.
Speaker 7 (07:38):
Yeah, lots of eating and drinking and playing games and
carrying on.
Speaker 6 (07:43):
So no complaints. I do love that. You gotta love
that holiday, right.
Speaker 7 (07:47):
Just oh my goodness built around just kind of being
if you're not the one doing all the cooking and preparing,
which I was not, then it's just kind of like
around being lazy.
Speaker 6 (07:57):
And that was what I did, and it was wonderful.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Every end there must being right, or for every end
there must be young. I mean, you're going hard at it,
you know, twelve hours a day, but you got to
find a way to relax and kick back a little bit.
Speaker 6 (08:09):
That's right. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
I was going out of pretty good in the kitchen
as well, but it was relaxing, very worthwhile I think
for my family in But you know, you, being a
Minnesota guy a chorus, so this is always an important
holiday for you and me so glad to hear that.
To you, enjoyed that. But diving into this evening, Darren,
I mean it comes off of a pretty lengthy break.
I just stay here for the crack and compared to
(08:32):
what we're gonna see usually on this schedule for the
rest of the entire season, and the only other breaks
they'll have in between games this big that would be
comparable for the entire season would be the holiday break
and then the Olympic break, which it feels like we're
going to be off here for an eternity. And I
think the theme of the week for me at practice
(08:54):
for the few days they had was dig in from
the small area games to the roadmap to get to
the net, even things that you would kind of pick
out that would lead to a little more power play
success even for the penalty kill as well, that would
help kind of recalibrate the score. That to me was
at the forefront here for the few days they had
on the ice. What'd you take away here from what
(09:14):
you saw?
Speaker 7 (09:15):
Yeah, I think especially on Wednesday, the biggest thing you
hit on the head there with the power play, but
also the penalty kill, and Lane Lambert was talking about
that at nauseums how much they not only need to
start finding some goals and success and the power play,
but the penalty kill has been downright.
Speaker 6 (09:31):
Pretty bad for this team.
Speaker 7 (09:33):
They do allow goals almost every game and the penalty kill,
and when you think about the last game against Edmonton
when they go zero for six on the power play,
so obviously that's kind of the story.
Speaker 6 (09:43):
Of the game.
Speaker 7 (09:44):
But at the other end of the of the ice
they go the Edmonton Oilers go two for two, right,
So I mean you have to figure out ways to
shut down these opposing power plays, but also figuring out
how it gets some success to yourselves because it is
costing you games. And right now we're in obviously a
little bit of a lull for this team where they
have effectively lost three straight and gotten shut out twice.
(10:06):
So there's a lot of emphasis right now on finding
ways to get the puck into the net while also
not sacrificing the strong defensive structure that they've created. At
least at five on five.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
The revolving door continues to spin. No Mason march Min
he won't be on the trip. It seems like Yanni Newman, though,
is good to go to get back into the lineup
and earn a ton of compliments here from Lane Lambert,
especially about a couple of days ago about his potential
to be still a top six winger in the NHL.
So for the latest lineup change, Darren heading into this evening,
(10:37):
what's your reaction.
Speaker 7 (10:39):
Well, one thing is Jared mccannon moving back with Matty
Veneer's and Jordan. I believe it's funny to me, I
think back to over the couple times now where they've
changed coaches, right, they've Hackedell and Dan Bousman, and then
Dan Bousman into Lane Lambert, and when Biosman took over,
it seemed like there were a few things that he
was resistant to going back to that had worked under Hackstell,
(11:00):
and then I think there was something similar here when
Lambert took over, where it was kind of like, I
don't know if we want to go back to having
Jared McCann on the top line and Jared McCann on
the left side on the power play, you know, we
want to get him in a shooting position on the
right side, and then sure enough he's back on that
top line and with the two guys he's played with
so much and over now on the left side of
(11:22):
the power play. So it's kind of like they eventually
revert back. They're like, well, we want to try some
different things, and then ultimately they find out, oh, you
know what, this is actually what works best. So it
takes a little while to get there sometimes as they
just try some different things.
Speaker 6 (11:35):
But yeah, as far as the.
Speaker 7 (11:36):
Lineup is concerned, I think Newman flots in pretty easily.
Catton is still playing a big role. You know, he's
getting next to Chandler Stevenson now his roommate. So they're
just trying to find a combination that's going to work.
You know, they've they've had such a hard time finding
the back of the net. So hopefully one of these
lines can spark something and then that'll be a little
(11:57):
bit of contagious thing. They can start scorings and goals
throughout their lineup.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Darren the Mason March Mint Darnell Nurse kerfuffle was kind
of a subplot from last Saturdays, so no March into
the lineup now for the rematch in Edmonton. So would
you be surprised to see any kind of emotional carry
over into this game?
Speaker 7 (12:16):
You know, I'm sure there will be some bad blood.
There were some probably not so nice things said to
one another between the two teams. March Mint being out
of the lineup probably takes a little bit of that out.
But also Edmonton has played another game in between. And
I mean the fact that I guess Marchant not playing, Yeah,
(12:36):
I mean that's a big deal, right. I think if
he was there, they'd still probably be trying to get
their vengeance for him hitting Darnell Nurse and being public
enemy number one in that game. But he's not playing,
so I think it takes a lot of that kind
of anger out of it. We'll see, you never know.
I would guess it's going to play out more as
(12:56):
a regular game as opposed to one with added vitriol
between the two teams, But we shall see.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Darren Brown joining us here from NHL dot Com, also
for Sound of Hockey, Dren, I want to get back
to Berkeley Catton, you dropped his name here about a
couple of minutes ago, and left wings centered. They've been
moving him back and forth between the wing in the
middle as well. And you know, just like me and
a lot of folks, that playing center in the NHL
is a very very demanding responsibility, but they're going to
(13:24):
give this a go. It looks like you're, at least
from the practice lineup side of things, him going back
to the wing on. But really, on top of that,
going back to last Saturday, I really couldn't picture maybe
a more effective game that Catton could have played on
the offensive set of things and not come up here
with the goal. So I'll kind of play with you
a little bit on this one. Whether it might be
(13:46):
a goal that's off the rush, whether it might be
say a breakaway getting right behind the pack on the
power play, or just maybe going to the front of
the net and getting one off of his Dairyer to you,
the likeliest goal that Berkeley Caton scores for his first
career NHL goal is going to be what.
Speaker 6 (14:04):
I'm going to say, it's gonna beat Man.
Speaker 7 (14:06):
He had a beauty at practice, took a path I
think as a cross cross slot pass, and just sniped
it over Joey Decord's shoulder. It was a really, really
nice goal, So I'm gonna go with that. I think
he's gonna take a take a cross cross ice speed
and he's going to snap it into the top corner
and I feel like it's got to be coming soon, right,
He's had so many good looks. The problem is he's
(14:28):
gotten himself into some great scoring positions, and for whatever reason,
when that's happened, it seems like more often than not,
he's put it right into the goalie's chest, which is
not You know, he's such a superstar goal score at
least at the junior level, so you know at some
point he's going to start finding the back of the
net and picking some of those corners a little bit better.
Speaker 6 (14:45):
But it's got to be coming soon. It just has
to be.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Edmonton's still hovering finally around above five hundred as we're
into December, and I mean a lot of us have
been thinking of when the Western Conference sorts itself out,
that they're going to be in the mix. But time
still marches on and there's old treading waters. So despite
what they're going through with trying to get their matters
sorted out, whether it's up run five on five, whether
(15:08):
it's defensively, whether it's in net as well for the rematches,
saving to you, Darren, what's the greater key here on
the crack inside the first twenty minutes in winning that
or just flat out staying out of the box.
Speaker 7 (15:19):
Gosh, after well, I don't know if you can safe
staying out of the box. I mean, it's impossible to
not take any penalties, right Like, I guess it's possible.
It's very rare that you don't take any penalties, especially
if you're getting penalties at the other end. Right if
if Edmonton is taking penalties, the refs call the narrative
of the game. Eventually they're gonna they're gonna give you
a couple of penalties. And we saw that in the
(15:41):
last game with the Mason Marchman getting checked into the
net and taking a getting called for goalie interference. Right Like,
eventually they're going to call something on you, even if
it's a bad call. So yeah, you can say stay
out of the box. But also, I mean you just
have to be better on special teams. Like penalties are inevitable,
power plays are inevitable. You aren't going to have games
(16:03):
where you just don't have penalties called either way. And
it's been making your breaking it. So that's not exactly
an answer to your question, because yeah, the first twenty
minutes they are important, But I think to me, the
most important thing is just how they handle special teams.
It's been such a storyline. You can tell it's starting
to get under their skin a little bit here. You know,
it's just such a such a conversation topic in the
(16:23):
locker room. Clearly it's the main thing that they're focusing on,
both on the ice and in video, and creating offense
in general has been such a difficult thing. So I'd say,
if they can, how about this, Mike, how about this
for an answer, I've given you three different answers to
this question. At this point, I'm going to say scoring
a goal in the first twenty minutes of the game
(16:45):
is going to be critical for this team.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
I like it.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
I don't have to decide multiple choice style here. We'll
just go ahead and go with that. One sounds good
to me. So hey, before I let you go, Edmonton
coming off one, nothing lost. They were just stymied by
the wild Things still very much clustered in the Western Conference.
The Kraken are still very much in this mix and
amidst this cluster. Whether it might be Vegas in their start,
(17:11):
whether it might be San Jose, whether it's Chicago, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Anaheim,
or somebody else. To you, who's the most surprising opponent
at this point of the season in the West.
Speaker 6 (17:25):
That's a good question.
Speaker 7 (17:26):
Well, of all the teams in the West, I think
I'd have to go with Anaheim. I don't think I
expected them to be competing for a top spot in
the Pacific Division by any means. I knew they were
going to be better, and you knew if Joel Quinnville.
Say what you want about him, but he knows how
to coach a hockey team, right, And I think bringing
(17:46):
him in along with the kind of rising talent that
they have there and you're seeing this is a team
that's ready to compete or at least push for a
playoff spot for a lot of the season. And so
whether it's this year that they do that they do that,
or it's next year or the year after, I mean,
that's a scene that's on the rise. They're rising a
(18:07):
little faster than I maybe would have accepected.
Speaker 6 (18:10):
So that's the one that I'll go with.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
They have a lot of young players, it seems like,
who are growing up really fast and really at this
point of the season. That next date with the Ducks
in Anaheim December twenty second, it feels right now like
it's going to be a collision. Darren, appreciate you as always,
you're awys welcome back on with us and looking forward
to having you next go around. But thanks again, buddy,
(18:32):
appreciate you.
Speaker 6 (18:33):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Mike tuking soon all right, thanks d Aarren. Certainly colliding
forces set to go out of here for this evening.
The cracking at number one in the NHL for five
on five goals allowed up against Edmonton with the third
best power play in the entire league. It'll certainly be
a good test here on the Craken side coming up
as they're trying to fend off again Edmonton team that
(18:55):
lost won nothing in their previous matchup to the Minnesota
wild Back on Tuesday. Once again, all the action coming
your way six pm Pacific time this evening at Rogers'
Place for on air at five point thirty all across
the Global Credit Union Craken Audio Network PIG. Thank you
again to Darren Brown for joining us and for cracking
this morning. I'm Mike Benton. Have a happy Thursday and
(19:17):
enjoy the game.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
You're home for the Kraken Sports Radio ninety three point
three kJ R FM
Welcome to Cracking this morning, a presentation of the Kraken
Audio Network Ken Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Here's Mike Benton.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
A little pause in the calendar is finally in the
rearview mirror. We're set for the Kracking in the Edmonton
Oilers this evening from Rogers Place, a rematch of last Saturday.
Mike Benton with you for Cracking this morning. This game
coming to you on a Thursday, December fourth, with the
Kraken opening up the calendar for the new month, still
very much in the playoff mix at eleven seven and
(00:34):
six twenty eight points one ahead of Edmonton with a
record of eleven eleven and five. Opening face off six
pm again Pacific time from Edmonton. Ever it fits you,
al Kiniski on the call. I'll join you from Network
Central for your pregame show served up by Frostbrewed Corps
Light Choose Chill, opening up five thirty on ninety three
(00:55):
to three KJARFM for the radio flagship and all across
the global. Credit you Kraken Audio Network, with the Kraken
looking for payback after a four nothing to feed to Edmonton,
who was pretty ready. It appeared with their familiar cast
chipping in getting goals for the likes of Ryan Nugent Hopkins,
Connor McDavid and Leon Dreys. Title we will hear from
(01:18):
head coach Lane Lambert and his comments to the media
after practice on Wednesday at Kraken Community Ice plus plus
Darren Brown joining us of NHL dot com and also
soundof Hockey dot Com. Additionally getting into our biggest takeaway
from practice, Mason Marchman's absence, emotional carryover from this last
weekend and surprises so far neck and neck proverbial le
(01:41):
with the crack and right now in the race within
the Western Conference. Darren Brown joining us here in just
a bits well for the previous few days, the crack
and missing Mason Marchman. Originally on Monday, head coach Lane
Lambert saying that it was due to a maintenance day,
but still no Marchman on ice leading through Wednesday. Brandon Montor,
who missed practice Monday and Tuesday, was back on ice
(02:04):
as well, along with the Kraken trying to tidy up
their game with a winless schedule, trying to end right
now at three consecutive games. After practice Wednesday at coach
Lane Lambert met with the media to discuss more.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
You see Monty out there practicing. Any update on.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
Mason and yeah, he's not gonna travel. You won't play tomorrow,
and we'll see. We're hopeful he'll play Saturday.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Is it any designation you can share up or lower
or something else.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
No, we'll just keep it at that.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Obviously, you talk a lot about special teams work and such.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
To and we saw some more of that today.
Speaker 5 (02:37):
Yeah, is there a way that almost like iron can
sharp and iron in the sense that your power play
and your penalty killing units are competing against each other,
but in a way these practice environments kind of know
what each other's trying to do.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Is that almost help in the practice?
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Well, the competition between the two like is critical. You know,
if you have if you have a good power play,
it improves your penalty kill. If you're penalty kill is good,
then it improves your power play vice versas. So you know,
we did we did a lot of film in the
last couple of days. We did some work on the
ice in the last couple of days. On both things.
Because you know, we talk about our power play. Our
(03:13):
power play is one us Some hockey games this year,
and you know you're going to go through little stretches
in the season eighty two games where you know, maybe
the power play is you know, gets a little gets
a little dry. It's not like we didn't have shots,
you know, our penalty kill, you know, to give up
twenty goals here so far in twenty four games, to me,
that's a problem. And you know, we talk about our
(03:35):
power player, our power play, you know, our penalty kill
is right now has to be better.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
To that point, do you think it's a function of
is it just not properly executing their all the penalty killer?
Is there something else you're seeing that could.
Speaker 6 (03:47):
Be behind that?
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Yeah, there's there's some lack of execution and responsibilities, you know,
and it's it's tough to be a penalty killer in
the National Hockey League, and you know we're we're kind
of developing on the fly as we go here with
certain guys and they're going to have to be better.
It's just the bottom line, like you know, we can
sit here and say, okay, this is that and the
(04:08):
next thing, but twenty four games into it and twenty goals,
you know, whoever's killing penalties has to be better. Doesn't
matter if you've killed in the National Hockey League before
or not. You've got to be better because we know
exactly what we're supposed to do now, it's a matter
of executing on the.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Mental side of that. How do you keep that from
creeping in? You know that every time there's a power play, Lord,
here we go again, how do you keep the focus
there and.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Not have that spiral? Or is there you said to
any of them on adage, Well, I mean I think
you can potentially sense it at some you know, at
some point, right uh, you know, and again like it's
not like we haven't been playing against top power plays,
but you know, I mean, take a look at our
take a look at our buffet of power plays we
(04:51):
have coming up here, and you know it's you know,
if it isn't you know, McDavid and drysitle tomorrow, it's
Caprice off. And if it isn't Caprice off, it's Nathan
McKinnon and mccarr And you know, like we have to
be better. So the question that you asked is does
it spiral or you know, is there some we have
to get on some kind of a run here to
get our confidence back and at the end of the day,
(05:15):
you know, you have to go out there with confidence,
you have to go out there with a little bit
of swagger no matter what's been happening, because you know,
it's it's every team goes through it at one point
or another during the season, so you know, we just
have to make sure that doesn't creep in.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
We've talked to you plenty obviously about special teams from
an even strength perspective, How do you feel about what
the group has done.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
To generate among that? Well, I think if you look
at our shot attempts, which is kind of like the
big thing, you know, that we've talked about, they've they've
risen over the last two weeks, you know, and you know,
we want to be better than average, but we're probably
about four shot attempts below league average, you know, And
(05:57):
so it's there's there certainly is a way to get there,
you know, And I think that from that standpoint, our
offense will you know, it will help our offense from there, clearly.
I think that you know, when you're having trouble scoring,
it takes away a little bit of the swagger. It
takes away a little bit of the swagger from the
power play and the guy's on the power play, and
(06:18):
then when that doesn't score, then it bleeds into the
five on five. So you know what, it's just a
matter of taking a deep breath, getting a starting with
a clean slate, so to speak, and you know, having
confidence we're good hockey team.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Of sort of having to snowball build confident.
Speaker 5 (06:35):
Now there's a breath that can happen. Like people look
at this last couple of days, it's possibly a breath
that can happen, so that you can have that refocus
and sort of reset the mindset almost.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
Well, I think I think you have to look at
it that way, and I think you can look at
it that way. And that's why we, you know, split
up practices the way we did, you know, and you
also have to enjoy the game and you have to
have fun, right and so when you know, when you're
squeezing your stick or you know you're sort of feeling
the outside noise of not scoring, you know, it's tough
(07:06):
to do that. But we have to remember that, you know,
we're we're here to compete. We gotta love competing, and
we have to have.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Fun ahead of the rematch this evening, our friend Darren
Brown of NHL dot com also see see Oh we
should say for the sound of hockey, been that since
the dawn of time, joining us once again on cracking
this morning. It's been a while, but Darren has been here, there,
and everywhere, my friend. On a belated note, Happy Thanksgiving.
(07:34):
How was on your end?
Speaker 6 (07:37):
That's fantastic.
Speaker 7 (07:38):
Yeah, lots of eating and drinking and playing games and
carrying on.
Speaker 6 (07:43):
So no complaints. I do love that. You gotta love
that holiday, right.
Speaker 7 (07:47):
Just oh my goodness built around just kind of being
if you're not the one doing all the cooking and preparing,
which I was not, then it's just kind of like
around being lazy.
Speaker 6 (07:57):
And that was what I did, and it was wonderful.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Every end there must being right, or for every end
there must be young. I mean, you're going hard at it,
you know, twelve hours a day, but you got to
find a way to relax and kick back a little bit.
Speaker 6 (08:09):
That's right. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
I was going out of pretty good in the kitchen
as well, but it was relaxing, very worthwhile I think
for my family in But you know, you, being a
Minnesota guy a chorus, so this is always an important
holiday for you and me so glad to hear that.
To you, enjoyed that. But diving into this evening, Darren,
I mean it comes off of a pretty lengthy break.
I just stay here for the crack and compared to
(08:32):
what we're gonna see usually on this schedule for the
rest of the entire season, and the only other breaks
they'll have in between games this big that would be
comparable for the entire season would be the holiday break
and then the Olympic break, which it feels like we're
going to be off here for an eternity. And I
think the theme of the week for me at practice
(08:54):
for the few days they had was dig in from
the small area games to the roadmap to get to
the net, even things that you would kind of pick
out that would lead to a little more power play
success even for the penalty kill as well, that would
help kind of recalibrate the score. That to me was
at the forefront here for the few days they had
on the ice. What'd you take away here from what
(09:14):
you saw?
Speaker 7 (09:15):
Yeah, I think especially on Wednesday, the biggest thing you
hit on the head there with the power play, but
also the penalty kill, and Lane Lambert was talking about
that at nauseums how much they not only need to
start finding some goals and success and the power play,
but the penalty kill has been downright.
Speaker 6 (09:31):
Pretty bad for this team.
Speaker 7 (09:33):
They do allow goals almost every game and the penalty kill,
and when you think about the last game against Edmonton
when they go zero for six on the power play,
so obviously that's kind of the story.
Speaker 6 (09:43):
Of the game.
Speaker 7 (09:44):
But at the other end of the of the ice
they go the Edmonton Oilers go two for two, right,
So I mean you have to figure out ways to
shut down these opposing power plays, but also figuring out
how it gets some success to yourselves because it is
costing you games. And right now we're in obviously a
little bit of a lull for this team where they
have effectively lost three straight and gotten shut out twice.
(10:06):
So there's a lot of emphasis right now on finding
ways to get the puck into the net while also
not sacrificing the strong defensive structure that they've created. At
least at five on five.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
The revolving door continues to spin. No Mason march Min
he won't be on the trip. It seems like Yanni Newman, though,
is good to go to get back into the lineup
and earn a ton of compliments here from Lane Lambert,
especially about a couple of days ago about his potential
to be still a top six winger in the NHL.
So for the latest lineup change, Darren heading into this evening,
(10:37):
what's your reaction.
Speaker 7 (10:39):
Well, one thing is Jared mccannon moving back with Matty
Veneer's and Jordan. I believe it's funny to me, I
think back to over the couple times now where they've
changed coaches, right, they've Hackedell and Dan Bousman, and then
Dan Bousman into Lane Lambert, and when Biosman took over,
it seemed like there were a few things that he
was resistant to going back to that had worked under Hackstell,
(11:00):
and then I think there was something similar here when
Lambert took over, where it was kind of like, I
don't know if we want to go back to having
Jared McCann on the top line and Jared McCann on
the left side on the power play, you know, we
want to get him in a shooting position on the
right side, and then sure enough he's back on that
top line and with the two guys he's played with
so much and over now on the left side of
(11:22):
the power play. So it's kind of like they eventually
revert back. They're like, well, we want to try some
different things, and then ultimately they find out, oh, you
know what, this is actually what works best. So it
takes a little while to get there sometimes as they
just try some different things.
Speaker 6 (11:35):
But yeah, as far as the.
Speaker 7 (11:36):
Lineup is concerned, I think Newman flots in pretty easily.
Catton is still playing a big role. You know, he's
getting next to Chandler Stevenson now his roommate. So they're
just trying to find a combination that's going to work.
You know, they've they've had such a hard time finding
the back of the net. So hopefully one of these
lines can spark something and then that'll be a little
(11:57):
bit of contagious thing. They can start scorings and goals
throughout their lineup.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Darren the Mason March Mint Darnell Nurse kerfuffle was kind
of a subplot from last Saturdays, so no March into
the lineup now for the rematch in Edmonton. So would
you be surprised to see any kind of emotional carry
over into this game?
Speaker 7 (12:16):
You know, I'm sure there will be some bad blood.
There were some probably not so nice things said to
one another between the two teams. March Mint being out
of the lineup probably takes a little bit of that out.
But also Edmonton has played another game in between. And
I mean the fact that I guess Marchant not playing, Yeah,
(12:36):
I mean that's a big deal, right. I think if
he was there, they'd still probably be trying to get
their vengeance for him hitting Darnell Nurse and being public
enemy number one in that game. But he's not playing,
so I think it takes a lot of that kind
of anger out of it. We'll see, you never know.
I would guess it's going to play out more as
(12:56):
a regular game as opposed to one with added vitriol
between the two teams, But we shall see.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Darren Brown joining us here from NHL dot Com, also
for Sound of Hockey, Dren, I want to get back
to Berkeley Catton, you dropped his name here about a
couple of minutes ago, and left wings centered. They've been
moving him back and forth between the wing in the
middle as well. And you know, just like me and
a lot of folks, that playing center in the NHL
is a very very demanding responsibility, but they're going to
(13:24):
give this a go. It looks like you're, at least
from the practice lineup side of things, him going back
to the wing on. But really, on top of that,
going back to last Saturday, I really couldn't picture maybe
a more effective game that Catton could have played on
the offensive set of things and not come up here
with the goal. So I'll kind of play with you
a little bit on this one. Whether it might be
(13:46):
a goal that's off the rush, whether it might be
say a breakaway getting right behind the pack on the
power play, or just maybe going to the front of
the net and getting one off of his Dairyer to you,
the likeliest goal that Berkeley Caton scores for his first
career NHL goal is going to be what.
Speaker 6 (14:04):
I'm going to say, it's gonna beat Man.
Speaker 7 (14:06):
He had a beauty at practice, took a path I
think as a cross cross slot pass, and just sniped
it over Joey Decord's shoulder. It was a really, really
nice goal, So I'm gonna go with that. I think
he's gonna take a take a cross cross ice speed
and he's going to snap it into the top corner
and I feel like it's got to be coming soon, right,
He's had so many good looks. The problem is he's
(14:28):
gotten himself into some great scoring positions, and for whatever reason,
when that's happened, it seems like more often than not,
he's put it right into the goalie's chest, which is
not You know, he's such a superstar goal score at
least at the junior level, so you know at some
point he's going to start finding the back of the
net and picking some of those corners a little bit better.
Speaker 6 (14:45):
But it's got to be coming soon. It just has
to be.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Edmonton's still hovering finally around above five hundred as we're
into December, and I mean a lot of us have
been thinking of when the Western Conference sorts itself out,
that they're going to be in the mix. But time
still marches on and there's old treading waters. So despite
what they're going through with trying to get their matters
sorted out, whether it's up run five on five, whether
(15:08):
it's defensively, whether it's in net as well for the rematches,
saving to you, Darren, what's the greater key here on
the crack inside the first twenty minutes in winning that
or just flat out staying out of the box.
Speaker 7 (15:19):
Gosh, after well, I don't know if you can safe
staying out of the box. I mean, it's impossible to
not take any penalties, right Like, I guess it's possible.
It's very rare that you don't take any penalties, especially
if you're getting penalties at the other end. Right if
if Edmonton is taking penalties, the refs call the narrative
of the game. Eventually they're gonna they're gonna give you
a couple of penalties. And we saw that in the
(15:41):
last game with the Mason Marchman getting checked into the
net and taking a getting called for goalie interference. Right Like,
eventually they're going to call something on you, even if
it's a bad call. So yeah, you can say stay
out of the box. But also, I mean you just
have to be better on special teams. Like penalties are inevitable,
power plays are inevitable. You aren't going to have games
(16:03):
where you just don't have penalties called either way. And
it's been making your breaking it. So that's not exactly
an answer to your question, because yeah, the first twenty
minutes they are important, But I think to me, the
most important thing is just how they handle special teams.
It's been such a storyline. You can tell it's starting
to get under their skin a little bit here. You know,
it's just such a such a conversation topic in the
(16:23):
locker room. Clearly it's the main thing that they're focusing on,
both on the ice and in video, and creating offense
in general has been such a difficult thing. So I'd say,
if they can, how about this, Mike, how about this
for an answer, I've given you three different answers to
this question. At this point, I'm going to say scoring
a goal in the first twenty minutes of the game
(16:45):
is going to be critical for this team.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
I like it.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
I don't have to decide multiple choice style here. We'll
just go ahead and go with that. One sounds good
to me. So hey, before I let you go, Edmonton
coming off one, nothing lost. They were just stymied by
the wild Things still very much clustered in the Western Conference.
The Kraken are still very much in this mix and
amidst this cluster. Whether it might be Vegas in their start,
(17:11):
whether it might be San Jose, whether it's Chicago, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Anaheim,
or somebody else. To you, who's the most surprising opponent
at this point of the season in the West.
Speaker 6 (17:25):
That's a good question.
Speaker 7 (17:26):
Well, of all the teams in the West, I think
I'd have to go with Anaheim. I don't think I
expected them to be competing for a top spot in
the Pacific Division by any means. I knew they were
going to be better, and you knew if Joel Quinnville.
Say what you want about him, but he knows how
to coach a hockey team, right, And I think bringing
(17:46):
him in along with the kind of rising talent that
they have there and you're seeing this is a team
that's ready to compete or at least push for a
playoff spot for a lot of the season. And so
whether it's this year that they do that they do that,
or it's next year or the year after, I mean,
that's a scene that's on the rise. They're rising a
(18:07):
little faster than I maybe would have accepected.
Speaker 6 (18:10):
So that's the one that I'll go with.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
They have a lot of young players, it seems like,
who are growing up really fast and really at this
point of the season. That next date with the Ducks
in Anaheim December twenty second, it feels right now like
it's going to be a collision. Darren, appreciate you as always,
you're awys welcome back on with us and looking forward
to having you next go around. But thanks again, buddy,
(18:32):
appreciate you.
Speaker 6 (18:33):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Mike tuking soon all right, thanks d Aarren. Certainly colliding
forces set to go out of here for this evening.
The cracking at number one in the NHL for five
on five goals allowed up against Edmonton with the third
best power play in the entire league. It'll certainly be
a good test here on the Craken side coming up
as they're trying to fend off again Edmonton team that
(18:55):
lost won nothing in their previous matchup to the Minnesota
wild Back on Tuesday. Once again, all the action coming
your way six pm Pacific time this evening at Rogers'
Place for on air at five point thirty all across
the Global Credit Union Craken Audio Network PIG. Thank you
again to Darren Brown for joining us and for cracking
this morning. I'm Mike Benton. Have a happy Thursday and
(19:17):
enjoy the game.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
You're home for the Kraken Sports Radio ninety three point
three kJ R FM
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