From the depths of uncharted waters, a rivalry emerges in the Pacific Northwest. pic.twitter.com/vb3QwFVG4x
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) October 23, 2021
Climate Pledge Arena will host the first-ever home NHL game for the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night, October 23rd, when the Vancouver Canucks come to town to begin their much-anticipated rivalry in the Pacific Northwest. The Kraken’s home arena has been completed just in time for the inaugural home opener against the Canucks. Seattle is 1-3-1 to start their season, not quite the start the NHL’s newest expansion franchise wanted. The Canucks roll into Seattle, coming off an elating 4-1 win over the slumping Chicago Blackhawks.
The Canucks were off to a poor 1-2-1 start to their 6-game road trip to open the season until they got to Chicago; they took on an unravelling Chicago team and fanbase by the reaction post-game. Through the club’s first five games, their best players have been the diminutive wingers Nils Höglander and off-season addition Connor “Angry Little Elf” Garland. Quinn Hughes was absent for the match against the Sabres, a humiliating 5-2 loss, which showed how much he changes the way the defence looks and plays. Recently most criticism in the fanbase has been directed towards #1 centre Elias Pettersson due to his slow start. With the amount of worry and fuss, you would think he’s got no points, just like another Canadian team’s superstar forward. But he has 3 points in 5 games so far this season which isn’t terrible considering he missed training camp and his last game before the start of the season was March.
As for the Kraken, when the Silver Fox of hockey insiders leaked their roster Frank Seravalli everyone immediately thought this team would win games with its strong goaltending and defence. They wouldn’t score much, so that they would lock down games. But their presumptive strength hasn’t been that so far this season, with their defence leaking chances throughout their first five games of their existence, which has resulted in their goalies not having the best numbers thus far. Phillip Grubauer is the starter for the home opener, and their #1 goalie has a 4.01 goals-against average, and .867 save percentage, this coming off a Vezina runner-up season last year. Every Canucks fan knows Seattle’s early defensive struggles can quickly turn around against the Canucks because nothing comes easy as a Nucks fan.
Don’t miss the historic home opener of the NHL’s 32nd franchise tonight, Saturday 23rd, at 7 pm on Sportsnet Hockey Night in Canada. Win or lose for the Canucks. This will be a game every fan remembers; the Canucks finally have a geographic rival, and it begins tonight.