Seattle Kraken News
Grubauer will make his third consecutive start on Thursday as Joey Daccord remains unavailable due to an upper-body injury. Grubauer was stellar his last time out, allowing just two goals on 30 shots in a 5-2 victory over Utah on Monday. It was just the fifth victory in 15 starts this season for Grubauer, who owns an .878 SV% on the year. He and the Kraken enter action on Thursday as slight favourites at -125 on the money line.
Daccord did not practice again on Wednesday and is not expected to be able to back up when Seattle takes on Vancouver on Thursday due to a lingering upper-body bruise. The 28-year-old goaltender last appeared for Seattle on December 22nd and currently has a 12-9-2 record, 2.51 GAA and .912 SV% in 23 appearances.
Olofsson was a second-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft but has only played four NHL games since the 2019-20 season. The 30-year-old defenseman has 11 points (2G / 9A) in 27 games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL) this season.
With Joey Daccord still sidelined with an upper-body injury, the Kraken will hand Grubauer the start for a second straight game on Monday. Grubauer got the win his last time out, allowing four goals on 22 shots in a 5-4 overtime victory in Vancouver on Saturday. It was a much needed win for the 33-year-old netminder, who has lost ten of his 14 starts on the season. He's got a good chance of staying in the win column on Monday as the Kraken enter action against Utah as slight underdogs at +125 on the money line.
Daccord reportedly suffered the injury in Seattle's last game before the holiday break but was able to stay in. The team did not provide any further details on his injury. Philipp Grubauer is the projected starter in Daccord's absence.
Burakovsky did not make the short trip to Vancouver with the team and will sit out Saturday's game with an illness. Daniel Sprong is the most likely candidate to fill Burakovsky's spot on the Kraken's fourth line and second power-play unit.
Olofsson was a second-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft but has only played three NHL games since the 2019-20 season. The 30-year-old defenseman has 11 points (2G / 9A) in 27 games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL) this season.
Stezka was recalled on an emergency basis, a sign that Joey Daccord might be unable to suit up after battling through an injury in his previous game. The 27-year-old Stezka has a 2.94 GAA and .906 SV% in 18 games this season (6-9-3).