Kraken Face Oilers Amid Growing Injuries in Preseason Finale

SEATTLE — The Seattle Kraken play their final preseason game against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Climate Pledge Arena. The game will be broadcast on KONG.

Injuries are compounding for the Kraken, with rookie defenseman Ryker Evans sidelined for six to eight weeks due to an upper-body injury. Evans left practice early on Tuesday, further depleting the team already missing forwards Chandler Stephenson and Jared McCann, as well as defensemen Brandon Montour and Vince Dunn.

Coach Lane Lambert expressed hope for his team ahead of the matchup, stating, “Get out of that one healthy would be step one.” He noted that the current injuries present an opportunity for younger players to step up and claim spots on the roster.

Ryan Winterton is set to play on the right wing with center Shane Wright and veteran Jaden Schwartz, who has stood out during preseason play. Other line combinations include Berkly Catton with Matty Beniers and captain Jordan Eberle, while the fourth line will feature Oscar Fisker Molgaard, Tye Kartye, and Jani Nyman.

Defensive pairings will also be adjusted due to absences, with Josh Mahura likely to partner with Adam Larsson, while other pairings include Ryan Lindgren with Cale Fleury and Jamie Oleksiak with Ville Ottavainen. Seattle currently has six healthy defensemen, depending on Dunn’s evaluation.

The Oilers are coming off a strong performance, winning two of their last three games, including a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Key players for Edmonton include Leon Draisaitl, who scored two goals and two assists in that latest game.

This matchup serves as the second preseason meeting between the two teams, with the Kraken winning the first game 4-1 on September 24. The Kraken are looking to finish their preseason strong after a recent 2-1 loss to the Flames, where the only goal came from forward Berkly Catton.