3 things the Seattle Kraken need for a deep playoff run

2. Goaltending

Goaltending will be a key for the Seattle Kraken during the 2023 NHL playoffs.

The Seattle Kraken are a surprise team this year, and their goaltending has played a big part in it. Philipp Grubauer was not very good with them last year in the first year of his big contract that he earned. He also started this year injured, so it didn’t seem logical that their goaltending would hold up.

Since then, he has returned and both he and Martin Jones have been good enough to win games with the Kraken. Neither of their save percentages is above .900, but they both have goals-against averages under 3.

To be honest, this might be one of the best duos in the league in terms of winning hockey games in any way they can. Both of them have come in and stopped pucks just enough when called upon, which is all you have to do when you’re a goalie on a very good team.

The playoffs get harder for everybody, and that includes the goaltenders. It is on Grubauer and Jones to play well and help this team advance. If one of them gets hot at the right time, and the forwards can score some goals, you never know what could happen.

Throughout the years, we’ve seen lots of hot goalies carry teams pretty deep into the postseason. If they want to beat someone like the Vegas Golden Knights or Edmonton Oilers, they are going to need one of these two standing on their head.

Whoever head coach Dave Hakstol goes with, the fans are just going to have to trust. They both deserve it at this point, but there is only one net. If they don’t elevate their game, the Kraken has no chance.