NHL Game Preview: Chicago Blackhawks (27-35-14) vs. Seattle Kraken (32-31-11)

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Venue

Climate Pledge Arena
334 1st Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM PT / 10:00 PM ET

Injury Report

Chicago Blackhawks

Nick Lardis — Day‑to‑day (Apr 4)

Andrew Mangiapane — OUT (Apr 9)

Matt Grzelcyk — OUT (Sept 15)

Artyom Levshunov — OUT (Sept 15)

Oliver Moore — OUT (Apr 11)

Shea Weber — OUT for season (ankle)

Seattle Kraken

Ryan Winterton — OUT (Apr 11)

Shane Wright — Day‑to‑day (Apr 4)

Max McCormick — OUT (Sept 15)

Team Statatistical Profile

Chicago Blackhawks (27‑35‑14)

GF/GP: 2.54

GA/GP: 3.24

Shots For: 24.4 per game

Shots Against: 30.4 per game

Power Play: 17.6% (38 PPG)

Penalty Kill: 83.6%

Road Record: 14‑19‑6

Goaltending

Spencer Knight: 18‑22‑11, 2.71 GAA, .908 SV%

Arvid Soderblom: 7‑12‑3, 3.82 GAA, .880 SV%

Seattle Kraken (32‑31‑11)

GF/GP: 2.80

GA/GP: 3.07

Shots For: 25.5 per game

Shots Against: 29.3 per game

Power Play: 20.0% (42 PPG)

Penalty Kill: 72.9%

Home Record: 17‑15‑5

Goaltending

Joey Daccord: 19‑19‑6, 3.00 GAA, .899 SV%

Philipp Grubauer: 13‑10‑4, 2.58 GAA, .911 SV%

Recent Team Form

Blackhawks — Last 5 Games

L 3–1 @ EDM

L 4–3 OT vs WPG

L 5–3 @ NJ

L 6–1 @ NYR

L 5–1 @ PHI
Trend: 0‑4‑1 skid, scoring only 2.1 goals per game.

Kraken — Last 5 Games

L 6–2 vs UTA

L 3–0 @ EDM

L 3–2 SO @ BUF

W 4–3 OT @ TB

L 5–4 SO @ FLA
Trend: 1‑3‑1, struggling to finish games.

Key Player Matchups

Connor Bedard (CHI) vs. Jordan Eberle (SEA)

Bedard: 69 points (30 G, 39 A)

Eberle: 52 points (24 G, 28 A)

Bedard drives Chicago’s offense, while Eberle remains Seattle’s most reliable scorer.

Tyler Bertuzzi (CHI) vs. Matty Beniers (SEA)

Bertuzzi: 31 goals, 11 PPG

Beniers: 19 G, 26 A

Bertuzzi’s net‑front presence vs. Beniers’ transition play is a key contrast.

Goaltending Battle: Knight vs. Grubauer

Knight: .908 SV%

Grubauer: .911 SV%

Seattle holds a slight edge in net.

Series History

This is the third meeting of the season.

Seattle won the previous matchup 3–2.

Betting Trends

Chicago

2.1 GF/G in last 10

3.6 GA/G in last 10

10‑7‑9 in one‑goal games

Seattle

2.8 GF/G in last 10

3.2 GA/G in last 10

17‑15‑5 at home

Game Odds

Chicago Blackhawks       5.5

Seattle Kraken                  – 170

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, April 3, 2026

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Profile: A seasoned NHL analyst with a comprehensive understanding of the league’s tactical systems, player‑development pipelines, and organizational strategies. This columnist provides in‑depth coverage that blends film study, advanced metrics, and historical context to explain how teams evolve across an 82‑game season and into the postseason. Background: With extensive experience covering professional hockey, the columnist has contributed to national sports outlets, digital platforms, and radio segments focused on roster construction, coaching trends, and league‑wide movement. A background in sports journalism and analytics supports a disciplined approach to evaluating performance, interpreting data, and tracking long‑term competitive cycles across all NHL markets. Signature Coverage Areas: Game previews and matchup analysis Film‑based breakdowns of offensive, defensive, and special‑teams systems Player evaluation, draft analysis, and trade‑deadline coverage Salary‑cap strategy, front‑office trends, and organizational philosophy Historical context, rivalry features, and postseason analysis Style & Approach: The writing emphasizes clarity, accuracy, and accessibility — translating complex systems and statistical models into insights that resonate with both traditional hockey fans and analytically minded readers. Each column reflects a commitment to balanced reporting, thoughtful evaluation, and a deep appreciation for the NHL’s speed, physicality, and evolving style of play.