VANCOUVER – The Seattle Kraken will be focusing on their first regular season game in the NHL after concluding their first preseason on a high note.

Goalkeeper Philipp grubauer said the Kraken appear to have established a chemistry, cohesion and identity after a 4-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, when Grubauer made 38 saves and the defenseman Vince dunn marked twice. Seattle finished its first preseason 4-2-0.

“I think we’ve played enough preseason games where everyone knows what the other guy is doing,” said Grubauer. “That wasn’t the case the first two games because obviously you have different guys in the lineup. The last two games we got that for sure.”

This is a big step for a team that had trained together for the first time 12 days earlier and built on the fly, installed new systems and worked towards a final roster for their season opener. regular at the Vegas Golden Knights Tuesday (10 p.m.). AND ; ESPN, SN, TVAS).

” We do not have any Nathan MacKinnon or one Mikko Rantanensaid Grubauer, who signed a six-year, $ 35.4 million (average annual value of $ 5.9 million) contract with the Kraken on July 28 after three seasons with MacKinnon, Rantanen and the Avalanche. Colorado. -man unites here, and that’s where our success comes from, the full-back, and if we all support each other and play hard with the puck, that’s the result we’ll see. [against the Canucks]. “

Video: Seattle Kraken 2021-22 season preview

Despite being outscored 38-25 by Vancouver, Grubauer praised his teammates for providing a controlled environment and not giving up many dangerous even-handed chances. Finalist last season in the vote for the Vézina Trophy, awarded to the best goalie in the NHL, the Seattle No. 1 goaltender rewarded his teammates with several tough saves as the Kraken suffered four penalties.

He made nine powerplay saves in the second period, including three points-blank opportunities by the Canucks captain Bo Horvat. Despite the flurry, Grubauer called the environment in front of him predictable, saying he has been the focus of training camp and will be the key to Seattle’s success.

“Everyone comes together which makes it easier, not just for me. It makes it easier for the D partners, for the forwards,” said Grubauer. “Everyone is growing in the system and everyone is eliminating the errors. We film, watch our mistakes and prevent them from happening again.”

Dunn, seen more as an attacking defender, finished the preseason with three goals in four games, but also said the way the Kraken play and come out of their own end is key to who they are trying to identify. to build.

“I think it just starts with hard work, it’s something we can all control when we go out there, and be predictable and play for each other,” said Dunn, St Blues pick. Louis in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft on July 21. “We do a good job, especially in the locker room. There is a lot of discussion, a lot of questions being asked and answered, so the more we play, the more our team comes together on the ice, especially at the system level.”

With the preseason behind them, the Kraken have six days to continue that process and finalize their roster before starting the regular season with five road games before their home opener against the Canucks on October 23.

“It’s a little different schedule with no games now,” said coach Dave Hakstol, “so we have the opportunity to dig in, work on things in training and prepare for our first game. opening of the season. “