SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 28: Fans cheer in a general view before Game Six of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Seattle Kraken and the Colorado Avalanche at Climate Pledge Arena on April 28, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)Photo: Getty Images
The Seattle Kraken will host game three of their second round series against the Dallas Stars at Climate Pledge Arena on Sunday, May 7 and game four on Tuesday, May 9, with both puck drops scheduled for 6:30pm PT, the National Hockey League announced in a full schedule release for the second round on Tuesday.
If necessary, the series will progress with game five in Dallas on Thursday, May 11, shift back to Seattle at Climate Pledge Arena for game six on Saturday, May 13, and conclude in Dallas for game seven on Monday, May 15. All times for games five through seven are to be determined.
The Kraken and the NHL were able to maneuver venue commitments and avoid a potential back-to-back situation, originally facing a Saturday booking for performing artist Rauw Alejandro and a Tuesday WNBA Seattle Storm preseason home game. The Storm announced their game with the Phoenix Mercury has been moved up to Monday, May 8.
KRAKEN SIGN GOALTENDER ALES STEZKA OUT OF TOP CZECHIA LEAGUE
The Kraken added to their pipeline depth by signing goaltender Ales Stezka on a one-year, two-way contract worth $950,000 annually on Tuesday.
Stezka, 26, went 25-14 along with a .925 save percentage for HC Vítkovice out of Czech Extraliga, the top men's professional league in Czechia and was among the league leaders in save percentage, goals-against-average and posted five shutouts. He was 49-42 with a .913 save percentage over the last six seasons at the Czechia pro levels, and last year led the Czech Extraliga with 24 wins.
StezkaStezka, who brings a sizeable frame at 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds, was originally a 2015 NHL Draft pick of the Minnesota Wild, selected in the fourth round. The Wild declined to signed him and Stezka returned overseas to continue his career after two seasons in the United States with Sioux Falls and Chicago of the Tier-1 junior level United States Hockey League.