Kraken (14-14-2) vs. Bruins (15-12-3) | 7:00 p.m

First: for defense

During Tuesday’s shootout loss to Florida, the Kraken defenders looked more connected and focused than they have all season. Although the Panthers managed 33 shots, the defensemen and forwards played with good sticks all night long – skillfully grabbing rebounds and loose pucks.

They also had 18 blocked shots and got out of the zone quickly on breakout plays.

“I thought it was our best defensive performance of the year,” Kraken coach Dan Bylsma said Wednesday after practice.

This connectivity in the team’s defensive game will be crucial against the beefy Bruins, who will undoubtedly be looking for pucks at the net front.

Kraken goalie Joey Daccord looked no worse for wear after being ruled out of his final scheduled appearance on Sunday in New York due to illness. But this time he won’t start because he still feels a bit under the weather when Philipp Grubauer steps in.

According to Natural Stat Trick, Daccord saved 1.7 goals above “expected” based on shot quality. He also has a combined save percentage of .957 in two career games against the Bruins, both in Boston, scoring in a win last season and two goals in a loss last month.

On the other hand, Grubauer defeated the Bruins 4-3 in a shootout at Climate Pledge Arena last February and looked good last Friday in New Jersey when he suffered a 3-2 loss in which he lost two of the Devils’ Goals scored almost on their own initiative by their own defenders. He also made several brilliant stops Sunday to prevent the New York Rangers from extending their 3-1 lead before the Kraken scored six straight goals to prevail 7-5.

Second, stay away from the infirmary

Yanni Gourde and Jared McCann each received “maintenance days” from practice on Wednesday, and Bylsma said that each was a decision during the game. McCann would likely play in Thursday’s game, but Gourde, who is dealing with a lower-body injury after leaving the game against the Panthers, is more likely to play Saturday against Tampa Bay or next week against Ottawa.

He was eliminated shortly afterward after a Florida defender struck him in the wrist during a breakaway attempt – an apparent violation that the referees did not penalize just before the Panthers went back on the ice and scored the tying goal. Gourde also missed a game in New Jersey last week with an undisclosed lower-body injury, so it was unclear whether this latest injury was new or an aggravation of a previous problem.

The Kraken cannot afford to be without either player for very long, as Jordan Eberle is already out until at least February. Gourde had found a new level of comfort moving to the right wing, while McCann, who set up the only Kraken goal on Tuesday, continues to lead the team with ten goals and 24 points despite having just one goal and one in his last twelve games scored two assists.

Third, know the enemy

Boston had played well under new interim coach Joe Sacco, posting a 7-2-0 record and four straight wins before falling 8-1 to the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday. Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman, who shut out the Kraken last month, allowed eight goals on 35 shots, a career-best, while Boston’s penalty kill – No. 2 in the league since Sacco took over for fired coach Jim Montgomery – conceded three goals.

Goals allowed have become an issue for the Bruins this season, ranking 23rd at 3.17 per game, compared to fifth a year ago at 2.70. But that’s nothing compared to their drop in goals per game from 3.21 to 2.53, which is fifth-worst in the league.

Much of that is due to a Bruins power play that ranked last at 12.7%, although they did score on two attempts and had a man advantage over the Jets.