The stingy Seattle Kraken are thick in the mix of the Pacific Division because they simply don’t allow goals. 

Their mark of 2.57 goals against a game is the second lowest in the NHL (at least before the Friday slate). So how wild is it that their goals per game are… The exact same: An identical 2.57 goals per game. 

Despite that, and a -3 goal differential overall, the Kraken are grinding out wins and points through team defence and the Bettman point. Their record is 11-6-6, and they’ve scored the fewest goals in the NHL this year. 

“Between our defense and our goaltending, we’ve had an opportunity to get points and now, it’s continuing to develop things from an offensive standpoint,” general manager Jason Botterill said this week.

“We’ve done a good job of keeping shots to the outside of the zone, but we still spend a little too much time in our D zone. We’re working too hard in that area. The more we can get into the offensive zone and just have a little bit more creativity there, I think it’s certainly something we’re looking at.” 

Coming off a loss

Seattle has lost back-to-back games, never leading against the Stars on Wednesday in a 3-2 decision. Vladislav Kolyachonok scored the game-winner with under six minutes left in regulation to extend the Stars’ road point streak to 10 games. 

“We could have done a better job there,” said Lane Lambert postgame. 

“[The power play] was needed tonight, and it’s been good for us, and it’s been there when we’ve needed it in the past. Tonight wasn’t that night.” 

The PP went 0/5 and overall is just alright at 18.2 per cent. Their PK is among the league’s worst at 71.4 per cent.

Off a regulation loss, the Kraken are 3-1-1 this season. The Oilers are 2-3-2 off a regulation loss.McCann back, Schwartz out

Jared McCann returned from injury, providing an assist on Wednesday, his first game since Oct. 18. Kraken fans were anxious as he received a brutal high stick from Alex Petrovic, but he seems to have no long-term ill effects. 

However, one man enters just as another exits. Jaden Schwartz is expected to be out for six weeks with a lower-body injury suffered against the Stars. His 8-7—15 is a Kraken high in points, but by a narrow margin.

They boast a wide spread of scorers in the low teens: Matty Beniers, Jordan Eberle, Vince Dunn, Brandon Montour, Chandler Stephenson, Mason Marchment, Eeli Tolvanen, and Shane Wright could wrestle that team-led away with a good game or two. 

While depth is nice, no one is popping off. It tracks that they’re reportedly, according to David Pagnotta, in the market for a top-six winger.

Metrics don’t like them long-termIt wouldn’t surprise me if the Kraken stop getting away with it as the season progresses. They have the second-lowest expected goal share at 5-on-5 in the league at 43.09 per cent, the lowest expected goals for (by four!), and the second-lowest expected goal differential (-11.93), according to Moneypuck. 

They jump 19 places in actual goal share at 51.43 per cent. Those numbers typically will get closer together over a larger sample size. 

However, to withstand those numbers and to be five wins over (NHL) .500 shows a group can find ways, despite the numbers. That can’t be discounted in a one-off matinee on the road for the Oilers, who are the opposite of gangbusters even strength.  

Notes:Seattle loves a fourth period just as much as Edmonton, as both teams are tied for the most in the NHL. SEA is 4-6 past regulation, EDM is 5-5. The shootout is not so kind to either team,  though, as the Kraken are 0-3 and the Oilers 0-1. SEA has only surrendered four or more goals once in their last 10 games. Kappo Kakko is still on IR, but could be activated soon, as he is skating again. It’s been a trying season for the former second-overall pick, who missed time early with a broken hand, only to suffer a lower-body injury after playing seven times. A word on Joey Daccord. He’s been rock solid with a 7-4-4 mark, 2.59 GAA and a .906 save percentage. But all three netminders (Grubauer, Murray) are over .900, and the Kraken have the best team save percentage, especially 5-on-5 with a .934.Three of the last four Kraken games have been 3-2. The Oilers’ loss at the Kraken on Oct. 25 was 3-2, as well. The Oilers are 12-4 vs the Kraken all-time, but have lost the last two, dating back to March 27. Quick turnaround, these teams will face off again on Thursday.