When the Seattle Kraken entered the NHL, they were expected to build a rivalry with the Vancouver Canucks. The cities are separated by a three-hour drive and already have a fierce rivalry in Major League Soccer (MLS). But, for this to become a real battle for years to come, the Kraken need to find a way to beat the Canucks next season.
Kraken vs. Canucks Rivalry So Far
Some of the most famous rivalries include the Toronto Maple Leafs vs the Montreal Canadiens, the Green Bay Packers vs the Chicago Bears, the New York Yankees vs the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Bulls vs the Detroit Pistons. Whether it’s thanks to playoff series of the past or hatred between the two cities, these historic rivalries rely on a balance rather than one team winning every game.
For the Kraken and Canucks to get to this level, Seattle needs to start winning games against Vancouver. Last season, the Canucks went 4-0, outscoring the Kraken 19-8. They even crashed Seattle’s franchise home opener with a 4-2 victory at Climate Pledge Arena. While the Kraken may already hate the Canucks because of their inability to beat them, there is no animosity in Vancouver, because why would there be? The battle between these two great cities will take time to brew, but it has the potential to be the next great rivalry once Seattle starts winning some matchups.
Why this Rivalry is Important to Both Sides
The Kraken vs Canucks rivalry is important to the fans. Both fan bases are extremely passionate and want to see their teams succeed. Due to the close proximity of the cities, and as mentioned, the long-time soccer rivalry that goes back over 40 years, it has created an intense competition between the two groups leading to neither wanting the other to have success. There was even a bet between the British Columbia Premier and Governor of Washington State before the first-ever matchup. Although it is a new NHL rivalry, there already are signs showing it has what it takes to be an exciting one.
How the Kraken Can Beat the Canucks in 2022-23
There are a few areas the Kraken need to work on if they want to beat the Canucks this season. The first is special teams. Last season, Seattle only managed one power-play goal in 16 opportunities through four games. While eight of those opportunities came in one game, the Kraken need to become more consistent on the man advantage. The Canucks, on the other hand, had no problem scoring a goal in each of the…
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