Kaapo Kakko stepped proper into a task in Seattle that he at all times hoped for in New York.
Earlier than being held scoreless within the Kraken’s 4-3 loss to the Canucks on Thursday night time, Kakko had collected a purpose, two assists and 10 photographs on purpose via his first 5 video games together with his second NHL group.
The 23-year-old Finn is skating on the appropriate wing of the Kraken’s high line with fellow second-overall choose Matty Beniers (2021) and Jaden Schwartz.
Averaging 15:13 of ice time, simply 4 seconds shy of an entire two-minute bump from his 13:17 common in New York this season, Kakko recorded extra minutes on Dec. 28 (18:18) than he ever did underneath Rangers coach Peter Laviolette.
He’s on the second power-play unit, recording 2:20 and a couple of:37 of man-advantage time within the final two video games, respectively.
And Kakko has already participated within the Kraken’s house win custom of “yeeting the fish” into the stands because the second star of the sport.
“Yeah, especially after these last two games,” Kakko instructed reporters of his confidence stage after the Kraken’s 5-2 win over Utah. “The start was kind of hard, all three games we lost. That’s never a good thing, but I felt pretty good [Monday], the first period especially. I think we got a lot of good chances. Power play, also. There can be [a] couple goals.”
The lack of Kakko and the losses which have piled up much more since his departure have had head coach Peter Laviolette toying with the Rangers’ center six at occasions.
From dropping Mika Zibanejad all the way down to the third line for a number of video games to plugging and chugging completely different wingers in numerous spots, there hasn’t been a lot continuity for the Rangers, who did snap their shedding skid with a 2-1 win over the Bruins on Thursday night time.
The third line of Kakko, Filip Chytil and Will Cuylle was one of many Blueshirts’ only strains, however even it needed to be damaged up due to the group’s want for a distinct look.
Kakko was a wholesome scratch in St. Louis after his final sport with the 2 aforementioned skaters Dec. 14.
In 184:16 of ice time with Kakko, in response to Pure Stat Trick, Chytil and Cuylle had been solely on the ice for 2 5-on-5 objectives in opposition to and 13 for.
Along with out-chancing opponents 91-80, additionally they had been on the appropriate facet of a 43-28 edge in high-danger possibilities.
It’s a a lot smaller pattern measurement for Brett Berard’s numbers with Chytil and Cuylle, but additionally doubtless reflective of the state of the Rangers, as effectively.
The Rangers’ new-look third unit had been on for one purpose and three in opposition to in 16:22 of ice time previous to Thursday night time’s matchup with the Bruins at Madison Sq. Backyard.
They’ve out-chanced opponents 15-10 and held an 8-4 edge in high-danger possibilities, as effectively.
“I think Berard is a little bit of a different player than Kakko,” Laviolette mentioned after follow Wednesday. “The road has been good. It had its finest sport final sport, I feel [against the Panthers]. They simply generated an terrible lot of possibilities. Berard appears to be within the combine offensively. His arms appear to be in it. They might be good. It’s undoubtedly not the identical participant, it’s a distinct participant, a youthful participant. So, we’re working with that, as effectively. He brings velocity, he brings enthusiasm, he brings a tenacity on the ice.
“The plays are getting made. Right before we went on the power play, I think Will had two chances to score, make a difference in that game. That line was good.”
