SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 29: Yanni Gourde #37 of the Seattle Kraken reacts after his goal during the first period against the San Jose Sharks at Climate Pledge Arena on April 29, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)Photo: Getty Images
The Seattle Kraken will open its 2022-23 regular season on Oct. 12 with a southern California doubleheader, taking on the Anaheim Ducks at 7pm PT before moving onto downtown Los Angeles the next evening to face the Kings.
The opening home game at Climate Pledge Arena awaits on that Saturday night, Oct. 15 against the Vegas Golden Knights which will close out three games in four days, as part of the 82-game regular season schedule released on Thursday.
The most glaring change to the schedule was a reduction of back-to-back games, a largely responsible variable in physical fatigue. The Kraken had a whopping 14 sets of back-to-back games last season. That total this year has been reduced to eight.
While there is physical relief, there’s not much else for relief in the opening block of games. The Kraken could be challenged with stiff competition, facing a stretch of 15 games to begin the season where ten opponents made the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season.
The All-Star break will be Feb. 2-5 with the event scheduled for FLA Live Arena, home of the Florida Panthers.
Other schedule highlights include:
· Oct. 21: the Kraken visit the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche.
· Oct. 29: the Kraken host Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins in their only visit to Climate Pledge Arena.
· Dec. 13: the Tampa Bay Lightning, three-time defending Eastern Conference champions, host the Kraken in the first meeting of the season.
· Dec. 30: Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers make their first of two visits to Seattle.
· Jan. 1: A New Year’s Day matchup with the New York Islanders in Seattle.
· Jan. 16: keeping with a growing tradition, the Kraken will play at home in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee, 1pm, against Tampa Bay.
· Feb. 26: Auston Matthews, winner of the NHL’s Hart Trophy (MVP) and Rocket Richard Trophy (leading goal scorer) and the Toronto Maple Leafs – also acquiring former Kraken captain Mark Giordano near the trade deadline – make their only visit to Seattle in a special 4pm PT start time.
· April 13: Season finale at home against Vegas.
Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Saturday, July 9 at 10am PT by visiting www.nhl.com/kraken.