The Kraken continue their road trip Sunday in Washington against the Capitals at 2 pm Seattle time.
Before Friday’s 6-3 victory in Detroit, Seattle Kraken winger Ryan Winterton was forecasting the future with his linemates. “It’s funny. We were talking all morning about how we’re due for one.”
Seattle’s fourth line got way more than one against the Red Wings. Freddy Gaudreau (who earned the Jofa helmet, above image) scored twice, Ben Meyers contributed a goal and two assists, and Winterton collected two helpers.
Kraken coach Lane Lambert was impressed by his bottom-six forwards. “I thought our third and fourth lines were outstanding. Any time you get a night like that from your fourth line, you expect to win the game.”
“It’s fun to feel chemistry building,” Gaudreau said. “Those guys (Myers and Winterton) are awesome skaters, smart players. They have all the assets. We support each other by communicating.”
Gaudreau certainly communicated on his second goal of the 2nd period. He called for the puck, Winterton delivered from the near boards, Gaudreau fired a dart under the bar from the left circle, and Seattle had a 4-2 lead. That would prove to be the winning goal.
“We feel we can be the best 4th line in the league,” Winterton said. “Freddy’s a silky player and finds me and Benny quite a lot. They make time and space for themselves. I’ll stay net-front for them and let them do their thing.”
Kraken Coach Returns To D.C.
Lambert is returning to the site of his greatest success, serving as an assistant coach on the 2018 Caps team that won the Stanley Cup. He got to see NHL all-time goal scoring leader Alex Ovechkin, who’s playing his final season, up close and personal.
“He’s a superstar’s superstar. What I found really interesting, having not been around one of those guys, was the expectations on him on a nightly basis, and the way he handles that. It’s a pretty impressive quality. People don’t really understand that.”
Otherwise, the coach is more focused on the 2026-27 edition of the 3-1-0 Caps, containing many skaters who can blot out the sun.
“Washington has six forwards who are 6-3 or 6-4, over 220 pounds. The third team in history that’s started a game with a lineup like that. We’re going to have to be hard around our net, box people out.”
Kraken Hitting The Target
Maybe the biggest edge the Kraken (3-2-0) have against the Capitals is that red is Washington’s primary uniform color. The Kraken have beaten the Calgary Flames twice by 6-1 scores, and downed the Red Wings to start the five game road trip.
Of course, the coach is thinking more analytically than that. Seattle ranks 4th in the NHL with a 16.2 shooting percentage (goals scored divided by shots on goal).
“We’ve done a really good job of hitting the net with our shots. That’s a key component. The ones that are on net have a chance to go in. The ones that aren’t, they don’t.”
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken Reveal Scary Nature of Jacob Melanson’s Injury
