Game Preview: Seattle Kraken @ Pittsburgh Penguins 1/14/2025

The Pens look to get back on track in their last home game of the month.

Who: Seattle Kraken (18-23-3, 39 points, 7th place Pacific Division) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (18-19-8, 44 points, 5th place Metropolitan Division)

When: 7:00 p.m. ET

How to Watch: Broadcasting on Sportsnet Pittsburgh, KHN, KONG in the local markets, streaming on ESPN+

Pens’ Path Ahead: This marks the last night of the Pens’ five-game homestead. Coming up is the longest road trip of the season, starting with a back-to-back set against the Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals on Friday and Saturday. After that the Penguins are set to travel to Los Angeles on Monday. The Kings’ last home game was cancelled due to the wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

Opponent Track: The Kraken have dropped five of their last six games, with their only win over the stretch coming against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Most recently Seattle allowed four first-period goals in a five-minute span during a Sunday loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

Season Series: This is the first time the Pens and Kraken have met this season. The Pens will see the Kraken again in two weeks during a trip to Seattle later this month.

Hidden Stat: The Pens have a 2-3-1 overall record against the Kraken.

Getting to know the Kraken

Projected lines

FORWARDS

Jaden Schwartz - Matty Beniers - Kaapo Kakko

Andre Burakovsky - Chandler Stephenson - Oliver Bjorkstrand

Jared McCann - Shane Wright - Eeli Tolvanen

Tye Kartye - Mitchell Stephens - Brandon Tanev

DEFENSEMEN

Vince Dunn / Adam Larsson

Jamie Oleksiak / Brandon Montour

Ryker Evans / Josh Mahura

Goalies: Joey Daccord, Philipp Grubauer

Scratches: John Hayden, Gustav Olofsson

IR: Jordan Eberle, Yanni Gourde

• Former Penguin Daniel Sprong isn’t currently with the Kraken. He was recently sent down to the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds, where he said his goal is to “prove that I don’t belong here.”
• Since his trade from the New York Rangers, former first-round pick Kaapo Kakko has eight points (three goals, five assists) in 11 games for the Kraken.
• With the Kraken’s playoff chances slimming, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Andre Burakovsky have been named as potential trade candidates by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

Player stats

(via hockeydb)

• After a strong start to his career with the Washington Capitals and Colorado Avalanche, Grubauer has found himself struggling this season behind a thinner Kraken defense.

Given that the Kraken have been outscored 12-4 in Grubauer’s last two starts, and that he was yanked after giving up three goals on four shots against the Red Wings, the team could decide to turn to Daccord for tonight’s match. Daccord has a career .915 save percentage and 2-0-1 in three career appearances against the Pens.

And now for the Pens

Projected lines

FORWARDS

Rickard Rakell - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust

Drew O’Connor - Cody Glass - Philip Tomasino

Anthony Beauvillier - Kevin Hayes - Jesse Puljujarvi

Matt Nieto - Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari

DEFENSEMEN

Marcus Pettersson / Kris Letang

Matt Grzelcyk / Erik Karlsson

Owen Pickering / P.O. Joseph

Goalies: Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic

Potential Scratches: Ryan Shea, Ryan Graves, Michael Bunting?

IR: Evgeni Malkin (day-to-day)

• It is not clear yet if Bunting will play tonight after being involved in a car accident outside the arena on Sunday. If he can go, it seems likely Puljujarvi will be once more bumped from the lineup.