Kraken Host Struggling Canucks in Pacific Division Matchup SEATTLE (Interstat) — Two teams looking to halt recent slides will meet when the Seattle Kraken host the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night at Climate Pledge Arena. Both clubs enter the contest with identical 15-win records, though the Kraken (15-20-0) sit just ahead of the Canucks (15-22-0) in the Pacific Division standings. Each is coming off a loss in its last outing. The Canucks are reeling after a 6-3 home defeat to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. Forward Drew O’Connor, a player to watch for Vancouver, scored a goal in that loss and has tallied goals in two of his last three games. He will be relied upon to help spark an offense that has been shut out twice in its last eight contests. Seattle, meanwhile, last played on Dec. 23, earning a 3-2 road victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Goaltender Joey Daccord was stellar in that win, stopping 35 of 37 shots. He has been a bright spot for the Kraken, securing wins in his last two starts with a combined 70 saves on 74 shots. The Kraken have found more consistency lately, going 3-2-0 in their last five games compared to Vancouver’s 2-3-0 mark over the same span. Seattle also holds the home-ice advantage in the first of a home-and-home set; the teams will meet again in Vancouver on Jan. 2. According to National Statistical’s game simulator, the Kraken are projected to edge the Canucks with a 3-2 final score. For Vancouver, secondary scoring behind O’Connor will be crucial. Conor Garland, who had two assists against San Jose, and Marco Rossi, who scored a goal, will need to contribute again. Seattle will look to forwards Frederick Gaudreau and Jordan Eberle, who each scored in the win over Los Angeles, to provide offensive support for Daccord. The game marks the start of a critical stretch for both clubs as they approach the midpoint of the NHL season, each seeking to climb out of the division’s lower tier.