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Wrapping up key moments from a thrilling win in Pittsburgh to the waiting period in New York, and a conversation with Hall of Fame TV voice Sam Rosen of the New York Rangers, Kraken This Morning covers the 10:00am PT puck drop at Madison Square Garden.
The waiting period is nearly over.
The Seattle Kraken, preparing for the second game of their four game road trip, will square off against the New York Rangers in their first visit ever to Madison Square Garden, today at 10:00am PT (950 KJR / Kraken Audio Network).
Preparation in this case though requires more patience than physical exertion. The Kraken have been in the New York area since Friday, after starting that day with a skate at the Pittsburgh Penguins practice facility, following the previous evening’s exhilarating 2-1 overtime win against the Penguins, the first OT winner in franchise history.
It was supposed to be a relative quick turnaround to face the Islanders yesterday. Those plans were scuttled in the wake of a treacherous winter storm along the east coast, delivering heavy snow and gusty winds while New York governor Kathy Hochul declared a State of Emergency affecting New York City and surrounding areas, with public travel discouraged.
Yesterday’s game was postponed, moved to Feb. 2, and the Kraken were forced to sit and wait.
With the waiting game nearly concluded, they will take on a Rangers squad enduring three losses in five games and the subtraction of defenseman Adam Fox to injured reserve, but still two points out of first place at 28-13-4 (60 points).
The Rangers defeated the Kraken in a close one, 3-1, the last time the two teams met in Seattle on Halloween night.
Fox broke a 1-1 tie on an eventual game winner with 7:50 to play in regulation while Igor Shesterkin stopped 31 shots. The Kraken, missing leading goal scorer Jared McCann to COVID-19 protocol that night, outshot the Rangers 32-17 in the game.
Colin Blackwell is set to face his former teammates for the first time since the Kraken selected him from the Rangers in last summer’s expansion draft. Blackwell, missing the first meeting on Oct. 31 while sidelined with a lower body injury, reached career-high marks with 12 goals and 22 points in 47 games with the Rangers last season.
Rangers forward Chris Kreider is tied for the NHL lead with 31 goals and has scored in seven of his last eight games.
The Rangers last played Friday in a 3-2 loss to Minnesota, after a pre-game jersey retirement ceremony to honor goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.