Kraken (15-19-2) at Canucks (17-10-7) | 1:00 p.m

First: set the pace and stay in the O-zone

VANCOUVER – Yanni Gourde and his wife Marie-Andree have two young daughters. Christmas was special, Santa Claus brought his presents and the Kraken fan favorite took his mind off hockey for a while.

On Friday afternoon, after the team’s first practice after the holiday break, Seattle’s alternate captain was fully focused on how the Kraken could overcome a four-game loss to division foe Vancouver. Gourde, who regularly analyzes games in a way that makes it possible to imagine the two-time Stanley Cup champion as a coach one day.

“In the past (earlier season) we dictated the tempo of the game a little more,” Gourde said. “Now we wait for them (opponents) to set the pace and then adapt. That’s not the identity of this team… We have to go out there and set the tempo for 60 minutes, just work hard and play hard. It’s one of the biggest problems we have.”

While teammates and coach Dan Bylsma say creating more Kraken forwards for tips, rebounds and checking goaltenders is a pressing issue, Gourde pointed out that the “sustained offense” is far from enough or getting the puck into the offensive zone and holds there: “We had a lot of one-shot-and-we-can-recover-the-rebound (results). Sometimes we shoot without anyone being there (at the goal crease). Getting on the net is one thing, but it’s also about being there at the right time. To ensure this happens, we need to time it right and be connected.”

At Friday’s practice, Bylsma began 20-minute ice skating drills to compensate for four days without ice. The coaching staff then unpacked several drills aimed at getting the puck up the ice in transition and getting into the offensive zone flawlessly to align with Gourde’s approach, emphasizing: “That’s an area where we “We can improve and that comes with being on the same page.”

Second: Updates on Daccord, Burakovsky

Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord did not travel to BC, nor did veteran forward Andre Burakovsky. Daccord suffered a puck to the wrist on December 19 against Chicago, and while he remained in the game he was “day to day” and remained in Seattle for treatment. Burakovsky suffers from illness “every day” (some players battled a virus in the last half dozen games before the break). Coachella Valley goaltender Ales Stezka was called up. Bylsma was clear that both players will not be fit for Saturday’s matinee at 1 p.m., suggesting that Philipp Grubauer will get the starting signal. Burakovsky’s absence will lead to several personnel changes on the power play units, if Friday’s practice is any indicator.

Third, know the enemy: Canucks in first place wildcards

Despite being seven games above NHL .500, Vancouver is struggling to stay among the eight Western Conference squads in the playoffs as the season’s halfway point approaches. The Canucks are 4-3-3 in their last 10 games, having just broken a three-game losing streak against San Jose just before halftime, and are 7-7-5 at home, all reasons for Kraken’s optimism. VAN’s leading scorer, defenseman Quinn Hughes (eight goals, 34 assists, 42 points), and second-leading scorer, center Elias Pettersson (10 G, 18 A, 28 points), are both unavailable for this matinee matchup.