Seattle Kraken: NHL releases COVID-revised 2021-22 schedule
A slew of COVID-related postponements forced the NHL to revise the 2021-22 schedule. As a result, the Seattle Kraken have nine new dates.
The National Hockey League has experienced many postponed games this season due to the ongoing pandemic. Wednesday, the NHL released a revised schedule for the remainder of the 2021-22 season. Among the league’s 121 rescheduled contests games are nine games (four at home, five on the road) for the Seattle Kraken.
Before getting to the new Kraken schedule, there were a few interesting items of note. First, the league will not extend the season beyond its regularly-scheduled end date of April 29, 2022. Next, most of the games (not all) take place during what was supposed to be the Olympics break in late February. Finally, for those Bettman conspiracy theorists, the NHL All-Star Weekend in Vegas (February 3-6) remains unchanged.
The @NHL announces a comprehensive update to the 2021-22 regular-season schedule. All teams will complete the full season by original April 29 closing date.
Full details: https://t.co/TCWYALt2aj pic.twitter.com/f33KcmEBYZ
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 19, 2022
Kraken Specific
Seattle’s nine rescheduled games are the third most (tied with Pittsburgh) among teams south of the Canadian border. Only the New York Islanders (13) and Columbus Blue Jackets (10) have more. Seven of those nine games take place during what was originally the Olympics period. But the Kraken play on back-to-back days only once in that period. Two games originally scheduled later in the season are moved to accommodate other teams.
The Games
- Wednesday, February 9, 2022 – Arizona at Kraken (rescheduled from 12/21/21), 7:00 PM.
- Friday, February 11, 2022 – Kraken at Anaheim (3/25), 7:00 PM.
- Monday, February 14, 2022 – Toronto at Kraken (12/19), 6:00 PM.
- Thursday, February 17, 2022 – Kraken at Winnipeg (1/8), 7:00 PM.
- Saturday, February 19, 2022 – Kraken at Calgary (12/23), 8:00 PM.
- Monday, February 21, 2022 – Kraken at Vancouver (12/27), 7:00 PM.
- Tuesday, February 22, 2022 – NYI at Kraken (1/4), 7:00 PM.
- Tuesday, March 22, 2022 – Kraken at Arizona (3/23), 7:00 PM
- Monday, April 18, 2022 – Ottawa at Kraken (1/6), 7:00 PM
Although the new schedule didn’t add any back-to-backs at the end of the season, the league missed an opportunity to help the Seattle Kraken out. They still play on consecutive dates four times in April (one every week) and none in March. Would it have hurt that much to reschedule one of those April doubles to March?
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