SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 25: Brandon Tanev #13 of the Seattle Kraken warms up before the game against the Buffalo Sabres at Climate Pledge Arena on October 25, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Nearly three years, a global pandemic, and two NHL team changes for Brandon and Christopher Tanev have passed before they saw each other on the same ice surface.
There’s no more waiting. A sibling rivalry is renewed tonight at Scotiabank Saddledome, 6pm PT (93.3 KJR-FM / Kraken Audio Network) when the Seattle Kraken visit the Calgary Flames to open a three-game trip.
“I’m the big brother, so I don’t want to lose to little brother, and he doesn’t want to lose to little brother,” said Christopher to the Calgary media after morning skate.
“It’s how we are with everything in life. We compete to beat each other, whether at the gym or at the golf course.”
The last time the Tanev brothers squared off in NHL game action was December 19, 2019. Brandon was a Pittsburgh Penguin, and Christopher was a Vancouver Canuck.
Big brother got the upper hand in a 4-1 win. Chris, opposite of Brandon’s extroverted personality, still knows what’s coming.
“He doesn’t shut up, but I’m quite quiet,” said Christopher.
“He’ll come after everyone. We’ll see what happens.”
Brandon, who was not available to speak to the media this morning, has remained healthy to contribute to a 4-4-2 start in ten challenging games, where he has collected six points and is looking to extend his streak to four straight games.
The Kraken will need his energy after this morning’s optional skate, not just in light of a challenging Flames opponent at 5-2, but for the fluidity with their situation in goal. Martin Jones, following up the birth of his son Rory with a 32-save win against the Penguins last Saturday, reportedly did not travel with the Kraken to Calgary and is attending to a private family matter.
Joey Daccord will make his season debut, backed up by emergency call-up Christopher Gibson from AHL Coachella Valley. He will make his third career appearance against the division foe Flames, who defeated the Kraken last year in all four head-to-head meetings.
“You only get so many opportunities within the division,” Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol said. “This is obviously a tough building to play in against a really good team, and we have to be ready to go and be ready to compete for 60 minutes.”
Calgary, coming off a 3-2 loss to Edmonton, is led offensively by newcomer Nazem Kadri’s nine points in seven games.
PROJECTED KRAKEN LINEUP:
Burakovsky-Wennberg-Bjorkstrand
Schwartz-Beniers-Eberle
McCann-Gourde-Tanev
Donato-Wright-Sprong
Dunn-Larsson
Oleksiak-Schultz
Soucy-Borgen
Daccord
Gibson