Wild vs Kraken Prediction — Can Minnesota Extend Its Streak in Seattle?

The Minnesota Wild head to Climate Pledge Arena tonight for a clash with the Seattle Kraken. Minnesota has been one of the hottest teams in the league over the last month or so, while the Kraken are spiraling on a 5-game losing streak and looking for answers. With the Wild rolling and the Kraken reeling, this matchup could be about more than just 2 points on the stat sheet — it’s momentum vs desperation.

Game Details and Betting Odds

This is just the 1st of 3 meetings of the season between these two. Puck drop is set for 10 p.m. EST in Seattle, where the Kraken are just barely above .500 at home with a 6-4-3 record, and Minnesota comes in at 15-9-5 overall and 7-6-1 on the road.

The Kraken sit 6th in the Pacific Division, while the Wild are third in the Central and rising fast thanks to their recent 7-2-1 run. That includes four wins in their last five games. Seattle, meanwhile, is 4-5-1 in its last ten and hasn’t won since November 29.

The Wild are listed at -135 on the moneyline, with the puck line set at -1.5 at +200 for Minnesota and +1.5 at -245 for Seattle. The game total is 5.5, with over at -105 and under at -115. This tells us the bookmakers are expecting a tight, low-scoring battle, but the Wild’s recent defensive form and goaltending edge make them a strong play to cover the puck line if they get out early.

Seattle hasn’t shown any amount of offense lately, which makes a 2-goal win for Minnesota well within reason and possibly worth the money.

Defense and Goaltending

Let’s start with what matters most lately — goaltending.

Jesper Wallstedt has been absolutely lights out for the Wild. He leads the team with a 1.95 GAA and a stellar .936 SV%, along with 4 shutouts to his name this season. Now, compare that to the Kraken’s Philipp Grubauer, who owns a 2.63 GAA and a .895 SV%. Joey Daccord, Seattle’s other option, isn’t much better, as he has a brutal 3.89 GAA and .858 SV% in 5 career games against Minnesota.

It’s not just recent stats, either, as the Wild rank 10th in GA/A, while the Kraken are 7th, but don’t be fooled because over the last 10 games, Minnesota has only given up 1.9 GA/A, compared to Seattle’s 3.1.

Penalty killing could be a big factor as well. The Wild have been dominant, killing off 41 of 44 power plays since November 1 and are perfect on their last 23 PK chances. They rank 15th on the season but are performing like a top-5 unit lately. Seattle sits dead last in the league in PK percentage at just 64.8%.

Scoring and Special Teams

Minnesota doesn’t rank high in total goals as they’re currently 26th in the NHL, but they’ve been timely and efficient as of late. Kirill Kaprizov leads the way with 32 points spanning 17 goals and 15 helpers, and Matt Boldy is right behind with 31 points and 8 goals in just 10 career games against Seattle. Kaprizov has also torched the Kraken with 14 points in 9 games, while Boldy thrives in this matchup.

On the other side of the ice, Jordan Eberle leads Seattle with just 16 points — that’s not a typo. That tells you all you need to know about their offensive struggles — they’re dead last in goals scored and 31st in assists, though you can’t expect many assists if you can’t find the back of the net. Jaden Schwartz leads the team in goals with 8, and their power play is 22nd in the NHL and doesn’t pose much of a threat to Minnesota’s surging PK unit.

Shooting percentage is another weak spot for Seattle. They’re 20th at 10.2% while the Wild are even worse at 9.6%, ranking 29th, but their quality of scoring chances is better, and their top players are simply more dangerous.

Trends and Streaks

Momentum is what this game will really come down to. Since Nov. 1, the Wild are 12-3-2, and their last 5 games include wins over Edmonton and Colorado, both of which are quality teams. They’re grinding out close wins and getting contributions across the lineup.

The Kraken have dropped 5 straight, including getting outscored 13-7 in back-to-back games against Edmonton and Detroit. They’ve given up 3+ goals in 4 straight games.

Also worth noting is that the Wild are 11-2-2 when scoring 3+ goals, and with Seattle’s struggling goaltending, that’s well within reach for tonight’s game.

Prediction and Best Bet

This game sets up perfectly for the Wild to keep things rolling and keep their momentum going. Their defense and goaltending are in sync, and their penalty kill is suffocating. Their top scorers — Kaprizov and Boldy — have a history of producing against Seattle, and we don’t expect that to change much given how Seattle has been playing. Meanwhile, the Kraken are in a slump, can’t stay out of the box, and don’t have the offensive firepower to make up for it. They’ll find their way out of this slump, but it won’t be tonight.

• Prediction: Wild 4, Kraken 1
• Best Bet: Wild -1.5 at -200

Minnesota is just the more complete team and is playing with confidence. It’s a solid value pick on the road, especially considering their success vs the Kraken and Seattle’s recent struggles.