Kraken activate Schwartz from IR; designate Stephenson non-roster

Schwartz has been in and out of the Seattle lineup with various injuries this season, but when healthy, he’s been a crucial member of the team’s offensive attack. For a team that doesn’t have a single player with 30 or more points so far, Schwartz has 15 in the 23 games he’s been on the ice.

The veteran scorer found the back of the net 26 times a season ago.

Stephenson will not be in the lineup on Saturday with the move, as he heads back to Seattle to attend to a family matter. The veteran center is tied for second on the team in points with 27, as he’s compiled 11 goals and 16 assists in 42 games while skating to a minus-5 rating.

Seattle did not get its season started off on the right foot, but has found a way to get things turned around over the past month and change. Notably, the Kraken have gone 8-0-2 in their past 10 games to go from outside the playoff picture to third place in the Pacific Division.

The Western Conference wild card picture has featured numerous teams who have struggled to string together the kind of stretch Seattle has found, and the Kraken have positioned themselves well to make the postseason now.

The Kraken are in action on Saturday night as they look to keep their winning ways rolling with a showdown on the road against the top team in the Eastern Conference, the Carolina Hurricanes.

Next week, Seattle will continue its lengthy road trip, making stops in New York against the Rangers, New Jersey, Boston and Utah as they look to continue to push toward the top of a competitive Pacific.