Breaking down the Buffalo Sabres Opponents: Kraken
The Buffalo Sabres have an opportunity to sweep their first road trip of the season. But it won’t come easy against a stronger Seattle Kraken team.
The Buffalo Sabres are slowly showing the NHL universe they are a better hockey team than many are giving them credit for. And while they have a history of showing us some fools gold in October and even November, this is a younger team and organization with far more stability than those of the past.
That said, the Sabres have a good chance to sustain their success beyond the season’s first two months, but the current team standing in their way is another young squad playing better than advertised early on. No, don’t let the Kraken’s 2-3-2 record fool you; this team is brimming with young talent and are rather even-keel when you rank them against other teams who have played at least seven games in this new season.
They have an ideal blend of scorers and some of the game’s most aggressive hitters. While they are weak in the goaltending department, the Kraken have a legit chance to win this game if they turn it into a high-scoring affair. And there are three players on the roster who can help them do that.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Kraken – Three opponents to watch
Left wing Andre Burakovsky is the key player to watch here, and if he gets hot against what may be a patchwork Sabres defensive rotation tonight, then the Blue and Gold could be in trouble. He can also be disruptive when playing defense, having logged five takeaways already this year. He is also putting up a solid 15.0% shooting percentage.
Adam Larsson is perhaps their best defenseman. He has three points in seven games, but his 12 blocks and 16 hits show that he is a sound two-way player. While Larsson isn’t as accurate as our own Rasmus Dahlin, his 15.0% shooting percentage is no laughing matter.
Jared McCann is quietly putting together a good season in the early going. Like Burakovsky, he has six points in seven contests, but is shooting at a remarkable 17.6%. McCann could cause the Sabres some trouble on the lower lines in tonight’s outing.
Must Read. Sabres vs. Kraken Prediction and Odds: Game 6. light
Overall, the Sabres cannot take the Seattle Kraken lightly. This team is playing better early on in its second season, led by cornerstones like Burakovsky and Larsson. They still lack sound depth, but Jared McCann is one player on those lower lines the Sabres would do well accounting for.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)