SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 13: Jaden Schwartz #17 of the Seattle Kraken prepares for a faceoff against the Minnesota Wild during the second period on November 13, 2021 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)Photo: Getty Images
It’s been awhile since forward Jaden Schwartz suited up on the same ice of the St. Louis Blues.
That wait will come to an end tonight. After coming over to Seattle as a free agent but missing all three meetings last season against his former team during an injury riddled campaign, Schwartz and the Seattle Kraken will square off against St. Louis tonight, 7pm PT (93.3 KJR / Kraken Audio Network) at Climate Pledge Arena in the first of three meetings.
Schwartz, who just surpassed 600 career NHL games, said he wasn’t putting too much thought into a “revenge” type of game facing his former stall mates, but the night carries significance.
“It’ll be exciting,” said Schwartz. “Definitely a lot of emotion. It was fun seeing them, but once the puck drops just like any other game it’s business for both sides.”
He got the pleasantries out of the way. Former teammate Robert Bortuzzo, who won the Stanley Cup with Schwartz as a member of the 2018-19 Blues, said a pack of eight individuals which included the Blues – and Schwartz – went to dinner together over Italian food in town on Tuesday night.
Schwartz picked up the tab for the entire dinner party, while reminding many that his sense of humor hasn’t changed at all.
“He’s right up there,” said Bortuzzo. “Intentionally, or unintentionally, he can zing you both ways. He always had the locker room feeling light.”
“It’ll be fun finally getting a chance to be out there with him, crack a few laughs with him.”
The Kraken are hoping they get the last laugh. They are looking for their first win in franchise history against the Blues, who swept the season series last year. Also at stake: the chance to snap back-to-back losses after the Kraken fell behind early in home defeats to Vegas and Carolina.
Martin Jones, looking to re-capture the 26-save form that backstopped the Kraken to a 4-1 win over the Kings last Thursday, will start in net.
The Kraken did not practice on Tuesday, cancelling a scheduled 11:00 am skate just minutes after their 5-1 loss to Carolina on Monday night.
“It’s a day of rest,” said Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol. “The way things happen, travel happens, it negated that. We needed the day off yesterday.”
“Good time to stay out of the rink, and come back today, physically and hoping to have the energy refreshed.”
The Blues, who have played just once since the season opened Oct. 11, beat Columbus 5-2 in their opener last Saturday.
KRAKEN PROJECTED LINEUP VS. ST. LOUIS
Burakovsky-Wennberg-Bjorkstrand
Schwartz-Beniers-Eberle
McCann-Gourde-Kuhlman
Donato-Wright-Tanev
Dunn-Larsson
Oleksiak-Schultz
Soucy-Borgen
Jones
Grubauer