Mackie Samoskevich returns to the line-up for the Kraken on Saturday afternoon against the Oilers while fellow winger Jacob Melanson will miss as least the next three games. Both suffered upper body injuries against the Flames, one in the preseason, the latter on Thursday night in the regular season opener.
Melanson’s specific timetable is unknown, according to Kraken head coach Lane Lambert, and the 23-year-old is listed on injured reserve as week-to-week.
Seattle’s leader in hits last season, while playing in only 36 games, Melanson was his feisty self in the opener, delivering three hits before leaving the game after 9:31 of ice time and after taking a cross check in the back from Matt Coronato of Calgary.
At 7:37 of the 2nd period, Melanson and Kevin Bahl of the Flames went to the penalty box for roughing following a scrum, but it was Coronato’s cross check leading up to the melee that did the damage.
Meanwhile, Samoskevich played a full compliment of shifts on September 24th in a preseason game at home against the Flames, skating 18:30, delivering two shots, three hits, and blocking two Calgary shot attempts. He was heartily involved physically; dinged up enough to miss the preseason finale against the Canucks and the season opener in Calgary.
Lambert was still thinking about his line combinations on Saturday morning, but we’ll likely see Samoskevich on the right side of center Matty Beniers and winger Jared McCann.
Puck drop is a little after 4 pm pacific time on Saturday in Edmonton.
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken Receive Mixed Grades For Artistic Choices
Earlier Canucks:
— Canucks Surprise Oilers; A Troubling Edmonton Microcosm
VIDEO: The postgame from Seattle’s 6-1 win over the Flames …
