Kraken (15-16-2) at Blackhawks (11-19-2) | 5:30 p.m

First: the right kind of traffic

CHICAGO — Yes, the Kraken had 30 shots on goal Tuesday night, including 15 in the first 20 minutes, while Ottawa only stopped a handful of them. But most of the Kraken shots and scoring chances were clearly in sight for Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark, who has played poorly of late. NHL goaltenders who have clear lanes to see the puck are more likely to make saves, even if they don’t always control the rebound.

“We looked really good,” SEA coach Dan Bylsma said after the game. “But Ullmark has seen them all. He is a tall goalkeeper (1.90 meters). He plays well; I think we probably had to do it a little dirtier than we did.”

“Dirty” is the operative word for having more Kraken players at the net front, both to monitor the goalie and to be available for tip-ins (body distractions are welcome) or to score on rebound shots. Alternate captain Jaden Schwartz had the best chance Tuesday with a tip-in shot that required Ullmark to make a Class A save. The Kraken forwards know that net-front bodies are desperately needed on this road trip. Expect the number of goal line congestions to increase.

The trade for New York Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko definitely fits the needs of the net front. In addition to the scoring potential of a 23-year-old former No. 2 draft pick in 2019, Kakko stands 6-foot-1, 220 pounds and has a reputation for fetching pucks in the offensive zone and puck battles on the sidelines winning, protecting the puck from opponents, being patient with the puck to make plays, and never giving in to goal-line crowds.

Second: The time is now

In ice hockey, “desperate” is generally a positive term. Playing with desperation means chasing the puck, moving quickly up the ice, thinking the shot first, crashing the net, finishing checks, not making shifts for a forward line or defensive pair. After two straight home losses that fell below the NHL’s .500 mark, including the fifth time this season the Kraken were shut out, Bylsma made it clear what is needed on Thursday and beyond.

“Look at the scenario, the situation where we are in the season,” Bylsma said. “I think desperation has to creep into our game every night. If not, it’s obvious. I don’t think the Tampa Bay game (5-1 loss) was at the level to be successful and play well every night. The way we excelled in the first half (Tuesday) was great, but you have to respect the opponents and their strengths and performances… There are probably a few more opportunities we could take to shoot the puck on the goal. That’s the mindset we need to play it every night.”

The away schedule includes three games over the next four nights (Chicago Thursday, back-to-back Vegas-Colorado Saturday and Sunday) and then in Vancouver on Dec. 28 after the holiday break before returning home for a game against Utah on Dec. 28 . 30 to complete the calendar year. There’s still a lot of hockey year ahead of us, but it’s time to head north on the ice, and given the wins and losses, it’s now very clear.

Third: Know the Enemy: Chicago Riding Streak with 28 straight penalties

Original Kraken forward Ryan Donato leads the Blackhawks with 11 goals. He scored the game-winning goal in the last two-plus minutes on Tuesday, securing a 3-2 comeback home win over playoff contender Washington. Chicago scored all three goals in the third period, including a shorthanded goal from journeyman forward Ilya Mikheyev less than a minute into the game. Chicago thwarted three Capitals power plays, reaching an impressive 28 straight penalties. It was the second straight win for new coach Anders Sorensen and an overall record of 3-3-0 in his first half-dozen games since being promoted from American Hockey League affiliate Rockford when Luke Richardson was fired. Sorenson gets high marks for his work with young prospects who have made it in the NHL, but his most scrutinized task will likely be finding the formula (and linemates) to get the 2023 No. 1 overall pick and NHL rookie of the year 2023-2024, Connor, to free Bedard finds his best game.